BIRDS AS BURROWERS 171 



other Swallows, the Minera (Geositta cunicularia), 

 a South American passerine bird, some Penguins, 

 and the Puffin amongst the Auks ; but it is espe- 

 cially characteristic of birds which sally forth for their 

 prey from a perch and return to it, using their feet 

 but little, such as Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Todies, 

 and Motmots, and of Petrels among the sea-birds. 

 Bee- eaters are most inveterate burrowers, forming 

 regular warrens and even sometimes burrowing into 

 level ground as Petrels do, most bird-burrowers 

 generally liking a bank for their tunnels. 



It has been said that animals which do not get 

 their living by burrowing do not show any special 

 adaptation for it, and the Sand-Martin is a case in 

 point ; but the Kingfishers and other burrowing 

 perchers, where burrowing is a family habit, are 

 noteworthy for the union of their toes, forming a 

 flat broad sole, which must be of some use in throw- 

 ing out the sand. It is true, however, that Horn- 

 bills have similar feet, although they do not burrow, 

 but nest in holes in trees as said above ; but they 

 are near akin to the other joined- toed families. 



Kingfishers when starting a burrow have been 

 seen to dart at the bank and dislodge the earth by 

 this charge, the pair relieving each other and 

 repeating the action until a big enough depression 

 was made to allow them to get to work with their 

 feet as well. Parrots with their gnawing beaks 

 and powerful short legs are better adapted for 

 burrowing than any other birds, and some do thus 

 nest in banks, such as the Patagonian Conure (Cyano- 



