196 



AYES. 



T\g. 93.— Siemum of Moth-hunter. 



inward. Tlic claw of the middle toe is commonly peetinntod on its inner edge; and tlie onter toe has 

 onlv four phalanges, a conformation extremely rare anioug Birds. They live solitarily [nr rather per- 

 manently in pairs] and are crepuscular in tlieir time of action, pursuing Moths and otlicr noetnrnal 

 insects: deposit few eggs [we believe always two in nnmher] on the bare ground, and have gene- 

 rally singular voices. 



[The Moth-hunters bear the same relationship to the Swifts (not to the Swallows) that the Owls do 

 to the Hawks, and have similar great cceca ; also a simple vocal organ, and general anatomy very 

 much resembling that of the Cuckoos, as will be partly seen by 

 comparison of the figures we have given of the sternal apparatus 

 of both. They have (udy ten tad-fiMtlicrs ; and tlie young are 

 covered with down \^hcn first excludeii.] 



Tlie common European species (C. Ein-op.rii-';, Lin.) [is remarkalile for 

 the loud sound it emits, bke the burr of a spinning-wheeh Aiintlier, 

 C. ruftcolli.?, Tern., visits south-western Europe. The former is the 

 latest to arrive in spring of all our summer visitants, rarely appearing 

 before the end of May. 



Anions;' the foreig-n species, a great number have longer trirsi, adnpted 

 for running on the ground. The tail varies nmch in shape, and there 

 is one, from Africa, remarkable for a. feather twice the length of the 

 body, which arises from the carpus of each wing, and is baibed only at 

 the end : another has prodigiously developed secondaries ; and there 

 are some with an appearance of aigrettes on the head, which constitute 

 the Li/ncornis of Gould. 



The Guacharos (Sieafomis, Humboldt) — 



Have a stronger beak, and toes separate to their articulation, the thumb still directed inward. 



These curious birds inhabit deep caverns in South America, subsist on berries, and the fat of the young is pro- 

 cured upon a large scale to be employed in cookery. 



The Xvctibctnes (Ayc7/7;///,9, Yieillot) — 

 Are also from South America, and are remarkable for having the shortcut tarsi of any bird whatever : 

 their wings are immensely long, and sides of the gape not bristled. The toes are formed for clinging 

 to the bark of trees, astlicir proportions completely dis([ualify them from rising from a level surface. 

 There are several large species, which ordinarily tloat at a grfat altitude abo\'e the forests. 



The /Egotheles {^■Egofheles, Vig.) — 

 Have long tarsi, and toes apparently fitted for hopping from bough to bough ; the wings compara- 

 tively sliort. 



Tlie otily known species inhabits Austialia, and is the Ca/irhuuhju.s JS'oiw IIi)l!nnd'uv of Phillips]. 



The roDARGUES {PijilnrfjKs, Cuv ) — 

 Have the form, colour, and habits of the Moth-hunters, but the l>ill is considerably more robust, and 

 there are no membranes to the toes, nor pectination of tlie middle claw, [a character which is wanting 

 in several even of the true Moth-lumter:^]. 



The specie's inhabit Australia and Australasia, and have some appearance of aigrettes on the head : are remark- 

 abh- for the singularity uf their general aspect. 



The foregoing genera, commencing with the Moth-hunters, form an entirely distinct natural group, 

 intermediate to the Swifts and Cuckoos, but passing into neither.] 



The third family of the Passerines, or 



The Conirostres, — 

 Is composed of genera thut have a stout l)eak, more or less conical, and [generally] devoid of 

 emargination. They sid^sist more exclusively on grain as the beak is stronger and tlneker. 



\Ye first distinguish among them 



The Larks {JlaiuJa, Tvln.) — ■ 

 Which have a long and straight hind-claws a character "which however is also more or less marked in 

 the Pipits, and in the Snowflecks, yet to be denoted. They are granivorous birds, and pulverators [or 



