ORDER SCANSORES. 509 



SUPPLEMENT ON THE SCANSORES. 



The genera comprehending the present order constitute a 

 part of the Picas of Linnaeus, and there is certainly much 

 analogy between them and those of the foregoing order; 

 accordingly, Mr. Vigors, in the application of the quinary 

 system of Mr. Macleay, to the class of birds, has united the 

 Picae and Passeres of Linnaeus into one order, under the 

 denomination of Insessores. 



The Jacamabs, (Galbula,) in the system of Linnaeus, 

 constituted a part of the genus Alcedo ; but the character 

 derived from the position of their toes must exclude them 

 from that genus. Still, however, there is a considerable 

 approximation, in the sharp and elongated bill, and short 

 feet, with the front toes united for a considerable portion of 

 their length. Willoughby, Klein, &c. placed them with the 

 woodpeckers. 



They are all natives of South America, (with the exception 

 of a single species,) where they remain isolated in humid 

 woods, on low branches. They fly lightly, though but to 

 short distances, and are silent, except during the time of 

 their amours, when they utter precipitate cries, which are 

 heard afar off. They are all entomophagous, and they 

 nestle in the holes of trees, in worm-eaten wood. One species 

 {Galbula Viridis) delights in the thickest recesses, and is of 

 so indolent a disposition, that it will remain perched for the 

 greatest part of the entire day on the same branch, from 

 which, however, it will occasionally spring, to seize, on their 

 passage, the insects which constitute its prey. 



Under the name of Picus, which we may translate by our 

 popular term Woodpecker, Naturalists unite a number of 

 birds, which constitute a very natural genus of the order 



