BIRDS. 357 



dozen of labels were found in the shaft of a single chimney 

 in which these birds were in the habit of building. * 



There are some foreign birds which, in their general habits, 

 approach to the present family. They are remarkable for 

 the excrescence by which the beak is surmounted, and from 

 which they derive their name of Hornbills (Fig. 269). This 

 singular appendage is extremely light, consisting of numerous 

 cells filled with air, which in fact penetrates with great facility 

 every part of their skeleton. The African species are 

 described as living on small Birds, Mice, Reptiles, and even 

 carrion, and only descending to vegetable diet when better fare 

 is not attainable. The Asiatic species seem more restricted 

 to fruits, and in the Molucca islands live chiefly upon nutmegs. 

 In the great size of the beak, and in the habit of swallowing 

 their food whole, the Hornbills bear a resemblance to the 

 Toucans, a family of climbing birds which inhabit the thick 

 forests of tropical America, and whose principal food is the 

 eggs and the young of birds. 



TRIBE III. CLIMBING BIRDS.- SCANSORES. 



; ' In gaudy robes of many coloured patches, 

 The Parrots swung like blossoms on the trees, 

 While their harsh voices undeceived the ear." 



MONTGOMERY'S " PELICAN ISLAND." 



WE cannot give better examples of the climbing birds than 

 those furnished by the Parrots, Cockatoos, and Macaws 

 (Fig. 270) of tropical countries; those beautiful birds, many 

 of which are domesticated in our houses, and which are uni- 

 formly one of the principal points of attraction in our Zoological 

 gardens. The formation of the foot and of the beak qualify 

 them in a pre-eminent degree to act as climbing birds. 



The Woodpeckers, among British birds, belong to the 

 present group. Their food consists of insects in different states, 

 for which they search under the bark of trees, digging into 



* Stated by Mr. Yarrell and by Mr. Jenyns, on the authority of 

 Mr. Denson. 



