i64


is the normal position for the species, and very probably for

Parrots in general.


Among the so-called '' Picarice" using the term in its

widest sense, I have noted the carriage of the feet in flying

Hoopoes, Kingfishers, Rollers, Hornbills, Barbets, Woodpeckers

and Cuckoos, and will now take each of these groups in detail as

to this point. In Hoopoes I have been unable to get a sight of

the feet of a bird flying at large, but by buying specimens of

Upupa epops in the Calcutta Bazaar, and letting them out in my

quarters, I found that the feet are constantly kept drawn up

to the body, as the bird flies — never extended behind, at least in

a room. In Hornbills on the other hand in spite of the supposed

alliance of these birds to the UpupidcB, the feet appear to be

extended behind in flight. I saw this very distinctly at any rate

in two specimens of the common black-and-white Ani/uacoceros;

the bird in each case was a tame one, but flying out of doors.

With regard to Rollers, I have suspected, from watching birds

at liberty, that the common Coracias iiidica carries its feet behind;

l3Ut I could not be certain till I let out a tame bird I had in my

iDedroom, and found that though the feet were at first allowed to

hang like a crow's when starting, they were undoubtedly stretched

out behind the bird when well under way.


Of Kingfishers I have observed more than one species. A

Ceryle riidis I brought up from the nest, and allowed to fly about

at liberty for this very observation, distinctly carried its feet

"behind, as also do Alcedo ispida and Haley 07i sniyrneyisis, as I

have been able to observe with wild birds ; though the former

takes a lot of watching to determine a point like this ! The

I^aughing Jackass {Dacelo gigas) carries the legs behind also, as

I made out with the keeper's assistance in the fine aviary at the

London Zoological Gardens, when in England on leave last year

(1897).


With Barbets my only observations that were at all

satisfactory were made on a specimen of Thereiceryx zeylonicus in

a very large compartment of the Bird House in the Calcutta

Zoological Gardens. Here this bird constantly kept its feet

drawn up to the body when on the wing. Some Blue-cheeked

Barbets {Cyanops asiaticd) in a smaller compartment in another

house, did the same, but for reasons to be presently given I do

not set so much value on this observation.


Of Woodpeckers I have observed only two individuals of

our common Gold-backed Woodpecker (^Brachyptennis aurantms) ;

a young female I kept mj^self and let out both in the open and

in my room, and a male in the large aviary in the Zoological



