304 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



and seeds. To tliis section belong the (Hornbills) Buceridce, the 

 Starlings (Stitnu'dcc), tlie Crows, Jaj's, and Magpies {Corvid<e), 

 the Crossbills {Loxiada;), and the n\nnerous Finches and Larks 

 (Fringillidce). 



2. Dentirosires. — The Birds of this section are characterised by the 

 fact that the upper mandible of the l.ieak is notched or toothed on 

 its lower margin near the tiji (fig. 217, B). The}' all feed ujion ani- 

 mal food, especially upon insects. In this section are tlie Sln-ikes 

 {Laniidw), the Fly-catchers (Jfiixcicajjidre), tlie Thruslies (Mendidcn), 

 and the AVarblers {Sylriada:). 



3. Teiiitirostres. — In this section tlie beak is long and slender, 

 gradually tapering to a point (fig. 217, A). The toes are generally 

 very long and slender, espiecially the hinder toe. The Humming- 

 birds feed upon the wing, and amongst these are some of the most 

 fragile and brightlj' coloured of all the Birds. Others, however, 

 live upon insects, which they catch ujjoii the ground or on the trunks 

 of trees, and some of these approach nearly to the Deiitirostres in 

 many of their characters. Amongst the more important groups 

 included in this section are the Creejiers {Certhidce), the Honey- 

 eaters (Meliiihagidce), the Humming-birds (Trocliilidoi), and the 

 Hoojioes {Cpiipid(j;). 



4. FissirostJ-i'.i. — The beak in the Fissirostral Perchers (fig. 217, C') 

 is generally short, and lemarkably wide in its ga).)e, and the opening 

 of tlie bill is ])rotected by a number of biistles. This arrangement 

 is in accordance with the haljits of the Fissiroslnv, the typical forms 

 of which live upon insects and take tlieir prey ujion the wing. The 

 most typical /''isxini.i/rr'x, in fact, such as the SwalloNvs and Goat- 

 suckers, tly about with their mouths open, and the insects which 

 they catch in this w:iy are jirevented from escaping, partly from the 

 bristles which border the gape, and paitly b_y a sticky secretion 

 within the mouth. The most typical Fissirostral Birds are the 

 Swallows and Martins {llii-iii(dirn'dcr), the (ioat-suckers {Capnmid- 

 ijidie), and the Swifts (Cj/psdidce); but to these the Bee-eaters (Men- 

 ■pidij;) and the King-fishers are usually- nilded. 



(JUDKP. VI. riAl'TCrllES. 



The Birilsof Preyare chariicteiised bythefoiniof tlie beak, which 

 is adajited for tearing aninial food (lig. 218, B). The up]ier mandi- 

 ble is the longest, hooked at its point, " strong, cni-vcd, sharp-edged, 

 and sharp-])ointed, often armed with a laterid tooth " (Owen). The 

 body is extremely muscular ; the legs are robust, short, with three 

 toes ill flout and one behind ; all the toes armed with strong, curved, 

 ciooki il (1,-iws or talons (fig. 218, A). They all feed upon the flesh 



