266 AVES. 



Tribe 3. Fissirostres. With short neck, flattened head, and 

 deeply-cleft beak, with long, pointed wings and weak feet (p. ambu- 

 latorii or adhamantes}. They all fly with rapidity and dexterity. 

 They catch their food, especially flies, Neuroptera and butterflies, 

 during flight with open beak. They live for the most part in 

 warmer climates. 



Fam. Hirundinidae. Swallows. Small, delicately-formed Oscines with broad, 

 triangular beak, compressed at the point, nine primary rectrices and long, forked 

 tail. They are distributed over all parts of the earth, and construct their nests 

 with skill. The European species pass the winter in Central Africa. Hirundo 

 L. Beak short and triangular ; metatarsus naked. The first and second remiges 

 of equal length. H. rustica L., Swallow. H. (Clielidon Boie. with feathered 

 metatarsus) urbica L., Martin. H. {Cotile Boie. The nasal apertures free, the 

 tail slightly excavated and moderately long) riparia L., Sand Martin. Nests 

 in holes in the earth, which it digs for itself in banks. H. rupestris Scop., 

 Crag Swallow, South of France. 



Fam. Cypselidae. Swifts. Swallow-like Clamatores, with narrow wings 

 curved in the form of a sabre ; short feathered metatarsus and strongly clawed 

 feet (pedes adhamantes) ; sometimes with inwardly directed hind toe 

 Collocalia esculenta L., (Salangane), East Indies ; Oypselus apus L., Swift ; 

 C. mclba L., (alpinus), Alpine Swift. 



Fam. Caprimulgidae. Goatsuckers. Clamatcres, with short, uncommonly flat, 

 triangular beak. Their size varies from that of a lark to that of a raven. 

 Plumage soft, owl-like, and of the colour of the bark of trees. The legs are 

 very weak and short. Hind toes half turned inwards, but can also be turned 

 forwards. The middle toe is long, and sometimes has a serrated claw. They 

 live for the most part in forests, and feed especially on moths, which they catch 

 in their open mouth, during their swift, silent flight. As a rule they lay two 

 eggs on the bare ground, without even scraping a hole for their reception- 

 Caprimulgus L., the buccal slit extends to close below the eyes. Edge of beak 

 not dentated, is fringed with stiff bristles. C. europcsus L. ; C. ruficollis Temm., 

 Spain. 



Tribe 4. Dentirostres. Principally Oscines with variously-shaped, 

 often thin and pointed, sometimes slightly curved beak ; upper beak 

 is more or less notched at the point. In the wings, which are of 

 medium length, the first of the ten primary remiges is reduced, and 

 may be entirely absent. 



Fam. Corvidae. Beak strong and thick, somewhat curved anteriorly and 

 slightly notched. Corvus corax L., Eaven ; C. comix L., Hooded Crow ; C. 

 corone L., Carrion Crow ; C. frugilegiis L., Eook ; C. monedula L., Jackdaw; 

 Pica caudata Kay, Magpie ; Garrulus glandarius L,, Jay ; Oriolus galbula L., 

 Golden Oriole. 



Fam. Paradiseidae. Birds of Paradise. With slightly curved, compressed 

 beak. Feet very strong and toes large. The two middle rectrices are often 

 elongated and filiform, with small vane only at the extremity. Male with 

 tufts of lax feathers at the sides of the body, and also on the neck and breast. 

 Paradisea apoda L. ; Cincinnurus regius L., New Guinea, (fig. 663.) 



