HUMMINGBIRDS. 313 



§ 22. The TROCHILID^ (or HummingUrds) are in 

 North America represented only by the typical subfamily, 

 Trochilinm (while the other group, " PhcethornithincR, repre- 

 senting about one tenth of the whole, is composed of duller 

 colored species especially inhabiting the dense forests of the 

 Amazon "). The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an excellent 

 type of the group. The bill is very long and slender, being 

 of a nearly equal depth throughout ; the feet are small ; the 

 wings are long and with ten primaries ; the tail is ten-feath- 

 ered. 



The ALCBDINID^ (or Kingfishers, § 28) are in America 

 represented fragmentarily by the subfamily Cerylince. They 

 differ strikingly from all the families to which they are allied 

 by position in classification. The common Belted Kingfisher 

 is a good type. The bill is stout and pointed, about one fourth 

 as deep as long ; the tarsi are extremely short ; the feet small, 

 and syndactyle from the union of the outer and middle toes 

 nearly throughout (pi. 1, fig. 24) ; ^^"^ primaries ten, but tail- 

 feathers twelve. 



The Coccygince (or American Cuclcoos~) form a distinct sub- 

 family of the large and much varied family, CUCULIDjSj (or 

 Cuckoos, § 24). They are quite closely related to some of the 

 Woodpeckers, but show little affinity to the other picarian 

 groups. They are characterized as follows : bill deepest at the 

 base (?), with upper outline convex, and the lower concave ; 

 toes arranged in pairs ; tail-feathers ten ; feathers above the 

 tarsus long and flowing. 



The Cuckoos are insectivorous, and eat great numbers of 

 caterpillars ; but unfortunately they often rob the nests of 

 other birds, though not, like the European Cuckoos, parasitic. 

 On account of their peculiar notes, however, they have been 

 called " Cow-birds." They are migratory, but not gregarious. 

 They build rude and frail nests, of sticks or the like, in a bush 

 or tree, and lay several plain bluish or greenish eggs, often at 

 irregular intervals. 



^^° In many other birds the toes are partly united at the base. 



