DIVISIONS OF BIRDS. 



215 



They are defined by Owen as follows : " Legs slender, short, 

 with three toes before and one behind, the two external toes 

 united by a very short membrane" (Fig. 136, A, B). 



" The Perchers form by far the most numerous order of 

 birds, but are the least easily recognizable by distinctive char- 

 acters common to the whole group. Their feet, being more 

 especially adapted to the delicate labors of nidification" 

 (building the nest), "have neither the webbed stracture of 

 those of the Swimmers, nor the robust strength and destruc- 

 tive talons which characterize the feet of the Birds of -Rapine, 

 nor yet the extended toes which enable the Wader to walk 

 safely over marshy soils and tread lightly on the floating leaves 

 of aquatic plants ; but the toes are slender, flexible, and moder- 

 ately elongated, with long, pointed, and slightly-curved claws. 



Fig. 186.— Insessores. A, Foot of Yellow Wagtail; B, Foot of Water Ouzel; C, Conirostral 

 beak (Hawflach) ; D, Dentirostral beak (Smike) ; E, Teniiirostral beak (Humming-bird) ; 

 F, E^sirOBtral beak (Swift). 



" The Perchers, in general, have the females smaller and 

 less brilliant in their plumage than the males ; they always 

 live in pairs, build in trees, and display the greatest art in the 

 construction of their nests. The young are excluded in a blind 

 and naked state, and are wholly dependent for subsistence 



