148 Animal Life 
of the other Owls (in this case called Bubonide or Asionide) by their heart-shaped 
face and the comb on the inner edge of the middle claw. 
AERIAL LAND-BIRDS. 
With very small] feet and long wings, spending most of their time in the air. 
The Humming-Birds (Lrochilide) have slender needle-like bills of varying length, 
either straight or curved, with the corner of the mouth not far back; the feet have 
three toes before and one behind, the front toes free to the base. These are small 
birds, including much the smallest of all species, and have the buzzing flight of 
an insect. (Fig. 14.) 
The Swifts (Cypselide) have very short wide bills, and the mouth is very wide, the 
corner coming under the middle of the eye. There are either three toes mm front and 
one behind, or all the four toes point indefinitely forwards, like the fingers of the human 
hand. The first toe, whether behind or not, is always noticeably the smallest. 
N.B.—These birds are frequently mistaken for the Swallows, which are Passerines, 
and will be noticed later. They may be distinguished by the smaller first toe, and by 
having only ten tail-feathers, the Swallows having twelve. 
The Nightjars (Caprimulgide) have an extremely small bill and enormous mouth, 
very wide and reaching back to below the middle of the eye; their feet have three toes 
in front and a small hind one, the three front ones being united at the base by a short 
web. The nostrils are close together and tubular, except in the Potoos or Ibijaus 
(Nyctibius), which, however, show the tiny bill and huge mouth in its most typical form. 
(Fig. 15.) ; 
The Bee-Katers (Meropide) have long curved bills, and feet with three toes in front 
joined closely by a common skin, and a rather small hind-toe. 
N.B.—The wings vary in length in this family, and some perch more than they fly, 
but on the whole they are birds of the air. 
SEDENTARY PERCHERS. 
With small fect and moderate wings; making sallies for their food from a fixed station. 
The Kingfishers (Alcedinide) have a long straight bill and two or three front toes 
(the inner front (or second) toe being sometimes wanting), joimed in a common skin, 
and a smaller hind-toe. (Fig. 16.) 
N.B—The bill is not always long, the well-known Laughing Lingfisher, or 
“Tiaughing Jackass” of Australia (Dacelo gigantea) having it only mederate, and the 
Shoe-Billed Kingfisher (Clytoceyr rex) quite short; but it is always straight except in 
the Hook-Billed Kingfisher (Melidora macrorhina), in which the tip only is hooked. 
Many kingfishers do not catch fish. 
The Rollers (Coraciide) have a stout strong bill, and feet with three free toes in 
front and a smaller hind-toe; the back of the shank is covered with separate scales. 
These birds, from their general size and colour, are often confounded with Jays 
which, however, have a large hind-toe and the shank covered with long plates 
behind. (Fig. 17.) 
N.B.—The Ground Rollers of Madagascar have long legs, unlike the rest. 
The Trogons (T'’rogonide) have short stout bills, and feet of quite unique structure ; 
the toes are in two pairs, but the inner front toe is turned back instead of the 
outer; thus, unlike any other pair-toed birds, the outer toe of each pair is the 
smaller. (Fig. 18.) 
The Jacamars (Galbulide) have lone straight bills like Kingfishers, and the toes 
in pairs, the outer front being turned back. 
