SCANSORES. 125 



climbing generally, but climbing in a particular way, 

 which is descriptive of them ; and then that does not 

 apply to them all. They are not the only climbers 

 among birds ; for the nuthatches, and especially the 

 creepers, which are, in the same system, classed with 

 the slender-bills, and others of the anisodactylic birds, 

 are much more adroit and graceful climbers than these. 



Wryneck. 



Birds of this order are all, almost without exception, 

 tree or forest birds : the greater number of them are 

 inhabitants of the rich forests of tropical countries ; 

 and these are generally gay in their plumage. Indeed, 

 the woodpecker and wryneck of our own country are 

 showy birds ; and perhaps the one of most sober 

 plumage, though peculiar from its habits, and inter- 



Cuckoo. 



esting from the time of the year at which its note is 

 heard, is the common cuckoo. 



