BILLS OF THE SCANSORES. 201 



than an insectivorous bill, it agrees with that of the 

 boe-eaters in being used on the wing. The preceding 

 figure of that of the common kingfisher of Europe 

 will give some idea of its general form. 



The remaining genera of this division, none of 

 which are European birds, have the bill bearing a 

 considerable resemblance to that of the kingfisher, 

 which may be considered as the most characteristic 

 bill. 



BILLS OF THE SCANSORES. 



These, the climbing, or Zygodactylic birds, have no 

 general character in the bill which can be applied to 

 the whole, though in the smaller grades into which 

 the order may be divided, the bill is sufficiently 

 characteristic of the food and manner of feeding. 



The whole order are forest birds ; and, with the 

 exception of the woodpeckers, some of which inhabit 



Spotted Woodpecker. 



the cold or the medium climates, they are all tropical 

 birds, or birds of the warm countries ; of those wild 

 forests which have been sown by the hand of nature, 

 and in which every tree is the very best adapted to 

 the spot on which it grows. Every animal of these 

 teeming climes is also produced under circumstances 



