388 8YNDACTYLI. 



Thus they are able to change their habitat by migra- 

 tion, and appear with us only as summer visitants. 

 In their sterna they bear some resemblance to the 

 owls, with which they also agree in some of their 

 other characters and habits. 



STERNA OF THE SYNDACTYLI. 



The birds belonging to this order are also chiefly 

 dependent on the wing in the finding of their food ; 

 but their flight is in general lower than that of 

 the swallows, the prey on which they feed larger, 

 and though not water-birds, or at all capable of swim- 

 ming, their habits are more aquatic. It is rather a 

 remarkable coincidence with this aquatic habit that 

 the sternum is elongated, and deeply notched in its 

 posterior edge, as in many of the swimming-birds. 

 There is, however, considerable difference between 

 the sternal apparatus of the bee-eater and that of the 

 kingfisher. 



That of the kingfisher is more indicative of a power 

 of resisting pressure on the anterior part of the body 

 than of rapidity or even duration of flight ; but still 

 it indicates a wing of considerable flying power : the 

 sternum is rather short, and much broader toward the 

 rear than in the anterior part. The keel pretty large, 

 nearly straight in its under edge, and a little concave 

 in front, with the angle advanced a considerable way 

 forward between the coracoid bones. The lateral 

 processes are pointed and produced in front of the 

 junctions of the coracoids. The coracoids are long 

 and strong ; and their unions with the sternum are 

 rendered very firm by the projection of the central 

 part of that bone and the lateral processes, which 

 receive and sustain each coracoid as in a fork. The 

 furcal bone is long, open, bent downwards, and much 



