6 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



Barbet of Eastern Asia (Cyanops asiatica) is at all 

 well known as a cage-bird. This has laid eggs in 

 an aviary in England. It is about the size of a 

 thrush, green with red cap, as well as blue throat. 

 DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. Warm regions 

 all round the globe, except the Australian region. 

 There are about a hundred species altogether. In 

 India the most familiar is the Coppersmith 

 (Xantholcema hamatocephala) , a small bird about as 

 large as a sparrow, green with red-and-yellow head 

 and red feet ; it has its name from its metallic 

 note, like the Tinker (Barbatula pusilla). a very 

 small black, yellow, and white species, with red 

 cap, found in South Africa. 



BEE-EATERS (Meropidce). 



DIAGNOSIS. Perching birds, with long, thin, downwardly- 

 curved bills and short feet with four toes, the three 

 front ones more or less united. 



SIZE. From that of a dove to that of a swallow. 



FORM. Bill long, thin, curved downwards, corner of 

 mouth below eye ; feet with very short shanks, 

 three front toes more or less united, hind-toe 

 smallest ; wings usually long, sometimes medium 

 or short ; tail rather long, square, or slightly forked, 

 usually with middle pair of feathers much the 

 longest. 



PLUMAGE. Brilliant, usually showing much bright 

 green ; blue, red and yellow are also common. No 

 seasonal change or sexual difference, and young 

 not very different from parents. 



YOUNG. Naked and helpless, fed by the parents. 



NEST. A burrow made in the ground, usually in a bank 

 or cliff, by the birds themselves. 



EGGS. Several, roundish, pure glossy white. 



