122 



THE JAVAN TODY. 



whole of the upper surface is a light green, the flanks are rose-colored, deepening into scarlet 

 upon the throat and fading into a pale yellow upon tlie abdomen and under tail-coverts. The 

 under surface of the wings is bare. These tints may be easily examined, even during the life 

 of the bird, for the Clreen Tody is a sluggish creature, and so disinclined to move, that it may 

 be approached quite closely, and watched as it sits with its head sunk beneath its shoulders, 

 and its bill projecting, as if without life or sensation. 



It has but little x^ower of wing, flying always near the ground, and never venturing on a 

 long aerial journey. From this habit of remaining near the earth, it is popularly known by 

 the name of Ground Parrot. The food of the Green Tody is chiefly of an insect nature, and 

 the bird is able to secure its prey as they crawl about in the muddy banks of ponds or rivers. 

 It also searches the grass and herbage for insects, and catches them wdth much adroitness. 

 The nest of this bird is placed on the ground, generally in some hole in a river' s bank, but 

 often in a depression made for the purpose, and is buUt of dried grasses, moss, cotton, feathers, 

 and similar substances. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, of a bluish 

 gray, diversified with bright yellow 



spots. The length of this bird is _^ -^ //V^'^^N "t^^jK 



barely four inches. There is another ' ^ ' 



species of Tody {Todits mexicdnus), 

 inhabiting the same country. 



The Javan Tody is a truly re- 

 markable bird, and is so curiously 

 formed that its proper position in 

 the kingdom of bu'ds has long been 

 uncertain. 



The extraordinary beak of this 

 bird is shorter than the head, and at 

 its base is wider than the portion of 

 the head to which it is attached. 

 The centre toes are connected to- 

 gether as far as the second joint. 

 Tliis bird is a native of Java and 

 Sumatra, and in many of its habits 

 resembles the green Tody. It feeds 

 mostly on aquatic insects, womis, 

 and larvae, which it obtains from the 

 banks of the rivers near which it 

 loves to dwell. It does not keep so 

 closely to the eaith as the green 

 Tody, but builds a pendent nest, 

 hanging to the slender bough of 

 some tree that grows near the water. 

 Although not a very rare bird, it is 

 but seldom seen, owing to its habit 



of withdrawing itself to the most inaccessible wooded lands of its native country, and thei'e 

 taking up its residence near the swampy grounds that are often found within the jirecincts 

 of vast forests. 



It is rather variable in its plumage ; some specimens having a black bar across the chest. 

 In all cases it is a striking bird, owing to the forcible contrast between the deep velvet purple 

 of the back and the bright golden yellow with which it is relieved. Another species, belonging 

 to the same genus, the Hooded Euryla.imus {Eitryla'wius ocJiromalus), is still more beautiful, 

 on account of the delicate rose hue with which its throat is tinted, and the bold black, white, 

 and yellow marking of the remainder of the plumage. 



GREEN TODY.—Todm viridis. 



