289 



TABLE XIV. (See page lo.) 



CONTAINS the third order, consisting of birds with two 

 toes before and two behind, for the purpose of climbing. 

 This order is subdivided into two tribes, distinguished 

 by the form and character of their beaks: the cuneiform, 

 or wedge-shaped, being small, and not toothed or in- 

 dented; and the levirostral or light beaks, which are 

 indented more or less, and, though in general large, are 

 of a lighter and thinner substance. 



TABLE XY. (See page 16.) 

 ORDER 2. TRIBE 1. CUNEIROSTRAL, (Wedge-Billed.J 



OF the five genera included in this tribe, the Cuckoos,. 

 Woodpeckers, and Wrynecks, are found in England. 

 The remaining two, viz., Jacamars and Anis, are Ame- 

 rican. The Jacamars are nearly allied to the King- 

 fishers, living, however, on insects instead of fish, and 

 building on low branches in the depth of dark and damp 

 forests, instead of in holes by the water-side. The Anis, 

 like the Jacamars, frequent the woods, but seem to be 

 of a much more social nature. If taken young, they 

 may be easily tamed, and even taught to speak some 

 words. Amongst themselves, too, they are the most 

 friendly birds imaginable, for they not only fly in flocks, 

 but lay and sit, many pairs together, in one large nest, 

 built by joint consent for the whole party. Future 

 travellers, we doubt not, will be able to relate many in- 

 teresting anecdotes of these sociable, happy birds, but 

 at present little more is known about them than what 

 we have related. 



Not so, however, of our British cuneiform birds, our 

 Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, and Wrynecks. Everybody's 

 attention is drawn to the first, whether he will or no. 

 For as soon as the Winter is well over, and " April 

 showers prepare the way for May flowers," we hear the 

 Cuckoo's note. It would be difficult to say, whether we 



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