SCANSORES. 211 



liaveno an'mity with various small (lat-ljiUed members of tlie Tyrant-flycatclier group, which liave often been 

 arranged with them by superficial ^vriteis]. 



We terminate the notice of tliis order by the most extraordinary of its genera, "whicli bears les3 

 resemblance to the other Sijiuhjctall tlian tlie latter do inter se, and which might very properly he 

 ranged as a separate family. 



Tnc lIoitNBii.LS {Buceros, Lin.) — 

 Great birds of .Vfrica and India, the cnornjous [arched and] dentclated beak of which is stmnounted 

 by a protuberance, sometimes as large as the beak itself, or which latter is at least very much inflated 

 above, as remarkably so as in the Toucans; while their port and habits approximate them to the 

 Grows, and their feet are similar to those of the Kingfishers and Bcc-eaters. The form of the rostral 

 excrescence varies much with age, and in vei7 young individuals there is even no trace of it percep- 

 tible ; its interior is generally cellular, [or permeated by a fragile network of osseous fibres]. The 

 sternum lias but one slight emarginalion on each side behind, [and is otherwise peculiar]. The 

 tongue is short [and heart-shaped, as in the Hoopoes, and the Roller, Uee-cater and Kingfisher gronp], 

 and deeii in the throat. [Tlie stomach moderately muscular, and intestines rather short aiid witliout 

 ccEca : they have only ten tail-feathers (as in the Hoopoes), and body-plumage short upon the rump, 

 and everywliere destitute of the su|iplementary plume to the feathers : the eyelids are fringed w'tth 

 stout lashes, as if to guard the eyes fnnn falling particles of dust ihsengaged hy the rostral jn-otubc- 

 rance, however that may be employed, which is unknown.* The bones are more coinjiletely permeated 

 by air than in any other genus, the ambient fluid penetrating even the phalanges of tlie toes]. They 

 bidjsist on all sorts of food, devouring tender fruits, chasing Mice, small birds and reptiles, without 

 disdaining carrion ; [and breed in the hollows of decayed trees, producing four rounded white eggs. 



The species are very numerous, and one alone is distinfruishetl from the rest by having a solid bony protube- 

 rance to the bill, of medium si-ze. The Ih^ht of these birds is sailing, and resemtiles that of a Ciow ; and on the 

 Ijround they advance by a leaping; mode of progression, assisted by the wings : the larger species are extremely 

 shy and diflieult of approach, and they always perch on the decayed branches of lofty trees, where their vision can 

 :omniand a wide range. It reqiures to be conlirmed that any of them feed on vegetable diet when in a state of 

 ture.] 



THE THIRD ORDER OF BIRDS, 



THE CLlJIBERS,t [Zvgodactvli, Tem.]- 



Coasi.sts of species wherein tlic outer toe is directed backward like the thumb [except in the 

 Troo-ons, where the first and second toes are opposed to flie third and fourth], from which 

 results a more efficient frvas]), wliich certain of tlie genera avail tliemselves of to cfing to the 

 trunks of trees, and so climb u)) them. The name of Climbers (Scansores) has, therefore, 

 been appropriated to this division, although it does uot rigorously a]iply to all its eonipoucnt 

 members, and there are also se\-cral birds that climb etpially well, the toes of which are chs- 

 poscd in tlie ordinary manner, as the Tree-creepers and the Nuthatches. 



The Birds of this order nestle generally in the holes of decayed trees ; their flight is [ordi- 

 narily] but moderate; their nourishmeut, as in the Passerina;, consists of insects and fruits, 

 accordino- as the beak is more or less robtist; and certain of them, as the Woodpeckers, are 

 jirovidcil with special means of obtaining it. 



In the greater number of genera, the sternum is doubly emarginated at its ]iosterior edge; 

 but in the Parrots [which have no sort of affinity with an}- of the rest] there is merely a hole 

 or furatneu, and often not even this. 



The J,^c.\m.\ks {Galhula, Drisson) — 

 Hold L ..car relationship with the Kingfishers by their lengthened beak, which is pointed, with a sharp 

 upper riilgc, and by their short feet, the two front toes of wdiieli are connected to the second joint ; 



' 'CIk- Ani (rr^(<7Vy«.5-'/; which have n very siniilnr elevation of | + ISIore jpr^iierly spenkinp. yol,e-toolei] birda, as the greater ntrm- 

 I'le l)eak to tliatol several ottlie smtdler Hortibills, Itave iJaO tlie eyes [ ber of them do uot climb.— Eo. 



