CHAPTER XXVII. 



The Odd Group Altricial. 



This is a group of birds of highly diversified forms. 

 They are put together because they differ from all other 

 birds, rather than because they resemble each other. 

 The order includes all the birds below the Passeres, down 

 as far as the parrots and the birds of prey. The distinc- 



tive characteristics cannot be 

 stated as they were for the 

 Passeres, because the birds 

 have no characteristics that 

 are common to all of them. 

 The order includes such widely 

 different birds as the wood- 

 peckers, the cuckoos, the 

 humming birds, and the night 

 hawks. 



The 



modified 

 plans of 

 hind toe 



feet are variously 

 to serve as many 

 food-getting. The 

 is usually smaller 

 and weaker than the other 

 toes, and cannot be apposed 

 One or another of all the toes 

 can be turned in a direction opposite from the direction 

 of the toes in the passerine foot, and in various members 

 of the order one sees these various positions assumed 



312 



FIG. 109. Syndactyle foot of a 

 picarian bird. 



to any of the other toes. 



