TODIES. 39 



of the Swallow is open at the top, and like half 

 a deep dish : this nest is lined with fine grasses 

 and feathers, which are aften collected as they 

 float in the air. 



" Wonderful is the address which this adroit 

 bird shews all day long, in ascending and descend- 

 ing with security through so narrow a pass. . . . 

 The progressive method by which the young are 

 introduced into life is very amusing: first, they 

 emerge from the shaft with difficulty enough, and 

 often fall down into the rooms below : for a day 

 or so they are fed on the chimney-top, and then 

 are conducted to the dead leafless bough of some 

 tree, where, sitting in a row, they are attended 

 with great assiduity, and may then be called 

 perchers. In a day or two more they become 

 fliers, but are still unable to take their own food ; 

 therefore they play about near the place where 

 the dams are hawking for flies; and when a mouth- 

 ful is collected, at a certain signal given, the dam 

 and the nestling advance, rising towards each 

 other, and meeting at an angle ; the young one 

 all the while uttering such a little quick note of 

 gratitude and complacency that a person must 

 have paid very little regard to the wonders of 

 nature, that has not often remarked this feat." * 



FAMILY III. TODID.E. 



(Todies.) 



The Todies constitute a small Family almost 

 confined to the tropics, but found in both hemi- 

 spheres. They are marked by having the beak 



* Nat. Hist. Selb. ; Letter xyiii. 2nd series. 



