44 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



slightly prolonged, sometimes inflexed, mar- 

 gins of upper mandible at dilated part falling 

 deeply over lower ; tarsi short ; toes rather 

 long ; tail feathers soft ; plumage brightly 

 coloured. 



4. FAMILY. Woodpeckers (Picidse). Bill lengthened, 



straight, angular, wedge-shaped, compressed, 

 and more or less truncate at tip ; tarsi short ; 

 toes long, particularly outer hind toe ; tail 

 feathers stiff and pointed. 



The Wrynecks (Yuncince) have tip of bill 

 acute, and tail broad and soft. 



5. FAMILY. Cuckoos (Cuculidse). Bill very variable 



in size, generally more or less curved, culmen 

 sometimes straight and inflexed at tip, gene- 

 rally curved, sometimes elevated and keeled, 

 lateral margins of upper mandible arched or 

 undulating, emarginated at tip ; gape large ; 

 tarsi very variable in length, covered with 

 large, broad scales ; inner hind toe sometimes 

 furnished with a long spur-like claw ; wings 

 rounded, or long and pointed ; tail long and 

 rounded 



IV. OKDEB. PIGEONS (Columbse). 

 This embraces but one great group. The 



1. FAMILY. Pigeons (Columbidse). Bill moderate, 

 rather slender, soft at base, hard at tip, which 

 is more or less elevated and arched ; nostrils 

 covered by a soft fleshy tumid membrane ; 



