PASSEKES. 265- 



they remain by preference on trees and in bashes. They are usually 

 divided according to their vocal apparatus into two orders the sing- 

 ing birds or Oscines, and the shrieking birds or Clamatores ; a 

 division which seems the more artificial because the same types of 

 form of beak and of the whole structure of the body are repeated in 

 the two groups. An arrangement based on the form of the beak 

 might lead to less artificial groups. By far the greater number of 

 Passeres live in monogamy, often united in large flocks. Many of 

 them build skilfully-constructed nests, and are migratory. 



Tribe 1. Levirostres. Clamatores, with large, but light beak, short, 

 weak legs, and gressorial or fissate feet, which are adapted for cling- 

 ing to branches. 



Fam. Buceridae (Hornbills). Raven-like birds, of considerable size, with 

 colossal, but always light, dentated, and downwardly-curved beak and horn-like 

 head-dress at the base of the upper beak. Bucorvus abyssinicus Gm. ; Buceros 

 rhinoceros L., Sumatra. 



Fam. Halcyonidae (Kingfishers). Passeres, with large head and long, keeled, 

 angular beak, relatively short wings and short tail. Metatarsus short ; feet 

 gressorial. Alcedo ispida L., Europe ; Ceryle rudis L., Black and white King- 

 fisher, Africa ; Dacelo gigas Glog., Australia. 



Fam. Meropidse. Bee-eaters. The beak is compressed and gently curved 

 downwards. The plumage is variegated ; the legs are weak. The wings are 

 pointed, with long coverts. Merops apiaster L., South Europe. 



Fam. Coracidae. Rollers. Large, beautifully coloured birds, with deeply-cleft 

 beak with sham edges and recurved extremity. The wings are long and the 

 feet cloven (^>. jissi). Coracias garrula L., Roller. 



Tribe 2. Tenuirostres. Clamatores and Oscines with long, thin 

 beak and ambulatory or cloven feet ( p. ambulatorii or fissi), with 

 long hind toe. 



Fam. Upupidae. Hoopoes. Beautifully coloured Clamatores with long, 

 laterally compressed beak ; short, triangular tongue and long, strongly rounded 

 wings. Upupa epops L., Hoopoe. 



Fam. Trochilidae. Humming birds. The smallest of all birds. Variegated 

 plumage with metallic lustre. Slender feet (p. ambulatorii or Jissi). The 

 long, awl-shaped beak has, in consequence of the projecting edges of the upper 

 beak, the form of a tube, from which the long tongue, which is cleft up to the 

 root, can be rapidly projected. Rhamphodon nasvius Less., Brazil ; Pliaetliornis 

 superciliosus Sws., Brazil ; Trochilus colubris L. ; Lopliornis magnifica Pp., 

 Brazil. 



Fam. Meliphagidae. Honey suckers. Small, beautifully coloured birds, of 

 stout build, with muscular vocal apparatus, with long gently-curved beak, long 

 metatarsus, wings of medium length and long tail. Melipliaga awicomis Sws. v 

 Australia ; Nectar inia fatnosa 111.; N. (Cinnyris*) splendida Cuv., South Africa.. 



Fam. Certhiidae. Tree-creepers. Oscines with long, slightly-curved beak, 

 pointed, horny tongue, metatarsus covered with scales, and long hind toe with 

 a sharp claw. Certhia familiaris L., Common creeper ; Ticliodroma muraria 

 111.. Wall creeper. 



