164 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



TODIES (Todida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Small perching birds with long flat bills, 



rather long legs, and front toes joined. 

 SIZE. About that of a wren. 

 FORM. Bill long, straight and flat ; feet with rather 



long shanks, and three toes in front, more or less 



united, and a smaller hind-toe. Wings and tail 



short. 

 PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Green, with a red 



throat ; there is no sex- difference or seasonal 



change. The species only differ in colouration 



of the sides. 



YOUNG. Naked and helpless. 

 NEST. A hole dug out in a bank, slightly lined with 



grass, etc. 



EGGS. Several ; pure white. 

 COURTSHIP. The plumage is ruffled up and wings 



drooped. 

 FOOD. Insects, and generally captured on the wing 



in darts. 

 GAIT. They seem not to move about much on their 



feet, but apparently hop. 

 FLIGHT. Short and rapid, but feeble. 

 NOTE. A soft, plaintive squeak. 

 DISPOSITION AND HABITS. They are sluggish and 



solitary. 

 ECONOMIC QUALITIES. Like other insect-eating birds, 



they no doubt have their utility as pest-destroyers. 

 CAPTIVITY. They have been reared from the nest in 



one instance, but never brought to Europe. 

 DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. There are 



but four, very similar, forms, confined to the 



West Indian Islands. The best known is the 



Green Tody of Jamaica (Todus viridis), sometimes 



called " Robin Redbreast " in that island. 



