302 YEirrEliKATE ANIMALS. 



and grating voices. The heak (fig. 215) is hooked, and is used as a 

 Icind of third foot in cliniljing, but .some move about actively on the 

 ground. 4. Tlie lilttimphastijlir, or Toucans, di.stinguished by their 

 enormously large and celhdar bill.s, the sides of whicli are serrated 

 (fig. 216). Tliey live in deep fore.sts, in small floek.s, and are con- 

 fined to trojiical America. .5, Tlie Trixjoiiidir^ or Trogons, which 

 inhabit the most retired recesses of the forests of the intertropical 

 regions cif both hemis])liere.s, and are distinguished by their resplen- 

 dent plumage, fi. Tlie Barhets (Biu'conidce), of the warmer parts of 

 the New and Old Worlds; and 7. The Plantain - eatera (Muso- 

 phagidce) of Africa. 



Order Y. I.vsessores, 



The sixth oi'iler of Birds is that of the Iiisessori'S or Perchers, often 

 spoken of as the Passerine Birds. They are defined by Owen as 

 follow.? ; " Legs sjender, short, with three toe.s befoi'e and one behind, 

 the two external toes united b^' a very short membrane" (fig. 217, 

 E and F). 



"The Pen-hei-fi form Ijy far the most numerous order of birds, Imt 

 are the least easily recognisable bj' distinctive characters common to 

 the whole group. Their feet, being more especially adapted to the 

 delicate labours of nidification " (building the ne.st), "have neither 

 the webbed structure of tliose of the Swimmerf!, nor the robust 

 .strength and destructive talons which characterise the feet of the 

 IJtnla nf Ittipiiii', nor yet the extended toes which enalile the Wader 

 to walk safely over ni.-irsliy .soils .-uid tread lightly on the floating 

 leaves of aipiatic plants ; but the toes are slender, flexible, and 

 moderately elongated, with long, pointed, and slightly curved claws. 



"The I'rri-liiTx, in general, have the females .smaller and less 

 brilliant in their |iluuiage than the males ; they always live ill pair.s, 

 build in trees, ami display the greatest art in the construction of 

 their ne.sts. The young are excluded in a blind and naked state, and 

 are wholly de|iendeut for subsistence during a certain period on 

 jiarental care. The Ijrain arri\"es in this order at its greatest pro- 

 jiortionate .size ; the organ of V(.)ice here attains its utmost complexity ; 

 and all the characteristics of the bird, as power of flight, melody of 

 voice, and liHinity of plumage, are enjoye<l in the highest perfection 

 by one or other nf llie groups of this extensive ami v.aried order." 



The .structure, then, of the feet givi-s the definition of the order, 

 but the minor siil)divisious are fo\indcd on the nature of the beak ; 

 this organ v;ii'yiiig \\\ foi'm according to the natin-e of the food, 

 which may be "small (U- young birds, carrion, in.sects, fruit, seeds, 

 \rgi-l,Ll)lr juices, or of ,-1 mixed kind." In .-R-cordance with (his 



