192 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



The majority of Scansores belong to the tropics ; a few families, 

 such as Woodpeckers and Cuckoos, visit or permanently reside in 

 temperate climates. Many are possessed of the most brilliant 

 plumage. 



V. Passerines. 



Outward toe united to the middle one in a more or less extended 

 manner. Cuvier divides them into five families, the first only being 

 based on the structure of the feet, the others on the formation of the 

 bill. Although arbitrary we shall follow this distribution. 



Passerines are to be found in all climates. They also differ much 

 in size and formation — thus, what could be more dissimilar than the 

 Rhinoceros Hornbill and our familiar Robin Redbreast. In this 

 order are not only to be found the most brilliantly-coloured birds, 

 but those possessed of the most graceful plumage. A further attrac- 

 tion some of them possess is that charming power of song that never 

 fails to delight the human ear. 



VI. Raptores. 



Rapacious birds, with strong, curved, pointed, and sharp-edged 

 beak; legs short and robust, three toes before and one behind, 

 armed with strong crooked talons. 



Representatives of this order are to be found in every climate. 

 They are generally possessed of sombre dull plumage, and have, with 

 one exception, no melody in their voice. From their predatory 

 habits they are not favourites with the human family, still many 

 genera are of eminent service to man, for they consume the offal 

 that in tropical climates would be certain to engender disease. 



