Systematic Course. 65 
sufficient to enable the student to remember any particular 
species with which he may happen to be unfamiliar. 
l.—MacrochiresThis group includes the Swifts and Goat- 
suckers, both of which feed on insects. They may be re- 
cognised by their wide mouths and weak feet, which gener- 
ally have all the toes directed forward. Students should 
be able to reecgnise the Swifts and Goat-suckers as such 
in the Museum collection, 
111.—Pici (Wood-peckers).—These birds have feet with big claws 
formed for climbing, One of the toes is often very much 
smaller than the others, They havea long pointed tongue 
for seizing the insects on which they feed. The students 
can easily recognise them by their stiff tail feathers, which 
help to support them on the trunks of trees as they peck 
the insects out of the dead-wood. 
IV.—Coccyges.—This is an ill-defined group, which comprises a 
number of very different families, The students should go 
over the Museum collection and be able to recognise the 
green barbet, the coppersmith, the koel, the hoopce, the 
green bee-eater, the Indian roller, and the kingfishers as 
such. Of these the koel, the hoopoe, the green bee-eater 
and the Indian roller are insectivorous. The green barbet 
and the coppersmith feed on a mixed diet, while the king. 
fishers are aquatic feeders. The Indian roller and the 
kingfishers are often killed for their plumage. 
V.-—Psittaci (Parrots).—‘lhese birds can be easily recognised by 
their peculiar hooked beaks and weak feet. They have 
the upper jaw movably hinged on to the forehead. They 
comprise all the green parrots, which are excessively 
destructive to grain and fruit in India. They are killed 
to some extent for the sake of their plumage. The 
Museum contains numerous specimens. 
Vi.—Striges (Owls).—These birds can be recognised by their 
powerful hooked beak and claws and the circlet of stiff 
feathers that surround the eye. They are mostly noctur- 
nal in their habits and feed upon small animals of all 
kinds. The School Museum contains numerous examples, 
Vil.—Accipitres.—These birds have beaks and ciaws very much 
like the owls, but can at once be distinguished from the 
owls by the absence of the circlet of stiff feathers around 
the eye. They includeall the Vultures, Eagles and 
Hawks, which feed on flesh and carrion. The Museum 
contains numerous examples, 
- 
F 
