194 



AVES. 



are sliort ; and tliclr gcnornl proportions occasionefl llicin to Ije long regarded as allied to the Tits 

 At tlicir head, but as a separate feijljdi\ision, sliould be placed 



The Uock-manakixs (Id'jjicnla, Brisson), — 

 Which are large birds, and have a double vertical crest on the head, composed of feathers disposed 

 Jongitudiiially like a fan. 



The adult males of the two species, hotli from America (Pip. n/jncohi, Gm., and P. pcnn-lana, Lath.), — are of a 

 delicate I'ich oran^'e culonr, while the yuutifi; are dull hrown. They live on fruits, and scratch the ground like a 

 common fowl, coiistiact their ne^ts \\itli wood in the depths of caverns, tlie female laynig two eggs. 



The Emerald-manakins {Cahjptomena^ Horsf.) — 

 Merely differ from the preceding in the head-feathers not being disposed like a fan. 



There is a species^ not larger than a Thrush, in the Indian Archipelaj^o, the colour of which is intensely brilliant 

 emerald-green. 



The True Manakins {Pipra, Cu\'.j — 



Are diminutive birds, generally reniarkablc f.jr their vivid coluirs. They inhabit liumid forests in 

 large troops. 

 [All are American, and they ohviously jiertain to the great Cotinga family, as do also the Kock-manakins.] 



The Eurvlaimes {Eiinjlaitnus, Horsf) — 

 Have feet similar to those of the llanakins and Rock-mauakins ; but their beak, as strong as in the 

 Tyrants, is exceedingly wide and depressed, its base being wider even than the forehead. 



These birds inhabit the Indian Archipelago, and have a black ground-colour, relieved by vivid colours; they 

 have much the air of the Barbels, a genus of a very different order, rrequent watery situations, and feed on 

 insects [and also berries]. 



The F1S.SIE0STRES, — 

 Compose a family numerically small, but very distinct from all others in the beak, which is 

 short, broad, horizontally depressed, slightly hooked, unemarginatcd, and very deeply cleft, 

 so that the opening of the month is extremely wide, and suited for swallowing insects, which 

 are sought for on the wing. 



The tribe of Flycatchers is that to which they are most nearly allied, and especially the 

 genus Procnias, the beak of which only differs m its emargiiiation. 



Their regimen, exclusively insectivorous [in the generality of instances]; renders them 

 eminently birds of passage, wdiich quit Europe in ivinter. They separate into iharnal and 

 nocturnal, like the Birds of Prey. 



The Sw'allow^s {Ilirtoiclo, Lin.) — ■ 

 Are diurnal species remarkable frjr iheir close plumage, the extreme length of their wings, and rapidity 

 of flight. ^Ye distinguish among Ihcm 



The Sw^ifts {Cijpschfs, Illiger), — 

 Which, of all birds, have proportionally the longest wings, and II y with the greatest rapidity. [The 



Iluniming-birds will bear coni[)arison, if not the 

 pelagic Taehypete.] Tlieir tail is forked, [and con- 

 sists of ten feathers only] ; their extremely short 

 feet have a very peculiar character, the thumb 

 being directed forward almost as much as the 

 other toes, anil the midillc and outer toes having 

 each but three phalanges, like the inner one. 



The shortness of the humerus, the breadth of 

 its apophyses, the oval fourchette [devoid of any 

 medial appendage], the sternum (fig. 92), destitute 

 of posterior eniarginations, — imlicate, even in the 

 skeleton, their adaptation for vigorous flight ; 

 while the shortness of their feet, comljincil with 

 the length of their wings, disables them from rising from a plane surface. Hence they pass their time 



Fi|j. 92.— Steraum of Swift. 



