LECTURE V. 171 



The Order Pic^e or Pies, at which we now 

 arrive, is so very numerous, that, far from passing 

 through all the genera of which it is composed, 

 we shall only select a few as examples. The 

 Order Piece may be considered as analogous to 

 that of Primates among Quadrupeds. The bill 

 varies in structure in the different genera, but 

 is commonly of a slightly compressed and. con- 

 vex form : they build their nests or deposit their 

 eggs in trees, and their food is principally of a 

 Tegetable nature, though some genera feed on 

 insects. 



I shall now proceed to select some examples 

 of the genera belonging to this numerous order. 

 The genus J^uceros is one of the most singular; 

 it consists of birds of rather large size, and dis- 

 tinguished by the excessive size of their beaks, 

 which are often still farther remarkable for some 

 kind of large prominence on the upper man- 

 dible. The most conspicuous species is the Bu- 

 Ceros Rhinoceros of Linnaeus, commonly called 

 the Rhinoceros-Bird : its general size is that of 

 a Turkey, but with a much more slender body 

 in proportion. Its colour is black, with the tail 

 white, crossed by a black bar: the beak is of 



