Class 5. Aves. Order 9. Clamatores. 465 



the feet short. Gorgeously coloured, especially the males ; often, too, some of 

 the feathers are of a peculiar structure. lusectivorous. To this family, which 

 is only met with in the warmer parts of America, belong the smallest of all 

 Birds. 



4. The Kingfishers (Alcedinids) have a straight, strong, angular beak ; 

 •external and middle fore toes united up to the second joint, the 

 middle internal ones to the first pedes gressorii. Brightly coloured ; mostly 

 ■natives of warm countries. In England the long-beaked Kingfisher (Alcedo 

 ■ispida), which lives upon Pisces and is often very destructive of the fry. The 

 same type of foot is found in the Bee-eater [Merops apiaster), with long, 

 very-pointed, slightly-arched beak ; winters in South Africa, migrating into 

 South Eux-ope in the summer, and occasionally flying into England. In the 

 Rhinoceros Birds (Bwcerotidse) too, the fore toes are connected at their 

 roots ; they are further distinguished by their veiy long, thick, some what- cui-ved 

 beak, which usually bears a large process at the root. Africa and East Indies. 



5. Pigeons (Coltimhidse), characterised by the fact that the ratner short 

 beak has a homy covering only at the tip, being soft at the base. The Ring- 

 dove (Columba palumbus), the Stock Dove (C. oenas), which nests in high 

 ti-ees, and the Turtle Dove {Turtur auritus)* ooowc in England, the last as 

 :a seasonal visitor. The Rock Pigeon (C Uvia), on the coasts of the 

 Mediterranean, in England, etc., is the ancestor of the numerous races of tame 

 Tigeons. The Migratory Pigeon (C. migratoria), of North America, 

 wanders in immense flocks through large districts in search of food. Numerous 

 ■other Pigeons occur in various parts of the world. An abeiTant form is 

 Didunmlus strigirostris of the Samoan Isles, distinguished by its short, 

 istrong beak, hooked at the tip, and by the presence of two dentiform processes 

 ■on each side of the lower jaw. The extinct Dodo (Didus ineptus) was about 

 the size of a Swan, very clumsy, with strong legs and strong beak ; on 

 •accoxint of the very small size of the wings it was unable to fly (sternal keel 

 absent) ; the tail, too, was very degenerate. It lived in the Mauritius, and was 

 ■extinct by the close of the seventeenth centuiy. 



Order 10. ScanSOreS [Climbing Birds). 



Distinguished from the Clamatores in that the fourth toe is turned 

 back, so that they possess two fore and two hind toes (pedes 

 ■scansorii) . 



1. Cuckoos (Cucididx) have a beak of medium length and somewhat 

 hooked ; the fourth toe can be turned to the side. Here bel--ing3 the Common 

 •Cuckoo (Ciiculus canorus), an insectivorous, migi-atory form, which lays its 

 •eggs in the nests of other Birds (Oscines) in order that they may do the 

 brooding. 



2. Woodpeckers {Picidse) have a very strong, atraii^ht, angu'ar beak, 

 •compressed at the tip and keel-like ; the tongue, which can be sti-etched out a 

 very long way, is provided at the edges with delicate b ickwdrdly-directed 

 ■processes ; the tail feathers are very stiff, and support the Mrd in climbing. They 

 are Forest-birds, feeding upon wood-boring larvse and othier Insects, hut also 

 upon seeds; they breed in holes in trees, which they chisel out fcir themselves; 

 they are " res'dents," oi- wander about in a limited locality. In Enghmd are 

 found the Great Black "Woodpecker {Picas martius), the Green Wood- 



* The Collard or Barbary Dove (T. risorius), whieli is often kept tame, 

 lives wild in Asia and Africa. 



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