﻿150 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



union of the three anterior toes, by producing consider- 

 able breadth of sole, gives an unusual degree of steadiness 

 to the bird highly conducive to its remaining very long 

 in one position. Thus we see that the foot of the king- 

 fisher, which at first appears so very imperfect, and so 

 totally useless for ordinary purposes, is that which is 

 most of all suited to the habits and the wants of the 

 bird. The bee-eaters, like the swallows, feed upon the 

 wing, yet, unlike those birds, they never perch upon the 

 ground ; at least, we can affirm this of the European 

 species (Merops apiaster), which visits the island of Sicily 

 every year in great numbers, and remains for near a 

 month on its passage from Africa to middle and southern 

 Europe. During this period we have sought for many 

 years every opportunity of detecting these birds in their 

 resting position, but never were successful in finding 

 them otherwise than on the tops of the olive trees, 

 where they rest immoveable, until they again dart oft 

 for another long excursion. It is indeed obvious that 

 they could not walk, for their feet (d) are much the 

 same as those of the wood kingfishers (Dacelo, jig. 80. e), 

 with this only difference, that the three anterior toes 

 are divided the whole length of their last joint, the 

 scales being rather more conspicuous. 



(129.) We shall here notice the foot of the genus 

 Buceros, not as an example of the true syndactyle form, 

 but rather to show the wide difference in its construction 

 from that of the kingfisher. The species before us is 

 that generally called the Buceros nasutus. The general 

 structure of the leg, although somewhat short, is strong 

 and robust ; the tarsus is nearly twice the length of 

 the hind toe, which is shorter than any of the others ; 

 the middle toe is connected to the outer only as far as 

 its first joint, the inner being entirely free, or cleft to 

 its base ; the claws are stout, and the scales thick and 

 strong. The great breadth of the sole, as well as the 

 partial union of the toes, clearly shows this bird habitu- 

 ally lives among trees, and yet the strength of the foot, 

 length of the tarsus, its claws, &c, favours the suppo- 



