CHAPTER VII. 



The Picarian Birds, — Order Picarle. 



Jacamars to Toucans. 

 Families Galbulid^e to Rhamphastid^-e. 



GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER. 



The assemblage of birds commonly known as 

 Picarians presents at first sight a marked resem- 

 blance to the perching birds just considered, and 

 yet possesses certain common features not found 

 amongst them. They have, for instance, the 

 hinder margin of the breast-bone doubly notched ; 

 such a feature being very rarely seen among Passerines. 

 Then, again, nearly all the members of the group lay- 

 white eggs, which are deposited, often without any 

 attempt at constructing a nest, in some concealed position, 

 such as a hole in a tree or bank. It is true that the 

 Picarians are by no means the only birds which adopt this 

 mode of nesting, since many Passerines also lay white 

 eggs and equally conceal them; the sand -martin, for instance, burrowing out a 

 tunnel like the kingfisher, and depositing its eggs deep in the ground. There 

 are, moreover, instances to the contrary, as in the case of pigeons, which lay two 

 vol. in.— 35 



