SCANSORI^E. 145 



tapping loudly and rapidly on a dry branch. They build once a year in 

 holes of trees, and each sex alternately broods upon the eggs until they are 

 hatched. 



, Lin. 



The Wrynecks have the protractile tongue of the Woodpeckers, which is 

 also moved by the same kind of mechanism, but the spines are wanting; 

 their straight and pointed beak is nearly round, and without any angles; the 

 quills of their tail are like those of Birds in general. Their mode of life is 

 that of the Woodpeckers, except that they climb but seldom. 



CUCULTJS, Lin. 



The Cuckoos have a middling, well cleft, compressed, and slightly arcuated 

 beak; the tail long. They live on Insects, and are Birds of passage. 

 They are celebrated for the singular habit of laying their eggs in the nests 

 of other insectivorous Birds, and, what is not less extraordinary, these latter, 

 which are often a considerably smaller species, take as much care of the 

 young Cuckoo as of their own true offspring, and that too, even when its 

 introduction has been preceded, which often happens, by the destruction 

 of their eggs. The rationale of this phenomenon is unknown. 



MALCOHA, Vaill. 



A very stout beak, round at base, and arcuated near the point, with a large 

 naked space about the eyes. The nostrils of some are round, and placed 

 near the base of the beak, in others they are narrow and situated near its edge. 

 They are natives of Ceylon; and, as it is said, live chiefly on fruit 



SCYTHROPS, Lath. 



The beak still longer and stouter than that of Malcoha, and grooved on each 

 side with two shallow longitudinal furrows; circumference of the eyes 

 naked; nostrils round. These birds approach the Toucans in their beak; 

 but their simple tongue, which is not ciliated, separates them. One species 

 only is known, which is as large as a Crow, whitish, with a grey mantle; 

 found in New Holland. 



Bucco, Lin. 



The Barbels have a thick conical beak, inflated on the sides of its base, and 

 furnished with five bundles of stiff hairs directed forwards; one behind the 

 nostril, one on each side of the base of the lower jaw, and the fifth under 

 its symphysis. The wings are short, and their proportions are heavy, as is 

 also their flight. They live on Insects, and will attack small Birds; they also 

 eat fruit. They build in the hollows of trees. 



TROGON, Lin. 



The Couroucoui, along with the hairy fasciculi of the Barbets, have a short 

 T 





