66 



AVES. 



of flight. Their rapidity is proportionably greater than that 

 of any other bird, and they balance themselves in the air with 

 nearly as much ease as certain flies. They live singly and 

 are exceedingly courageous. 



FAMILY V. SYNDACTILiE. 



Exterior toe nearly as long as the middle one, to which it 

 is united as far as the penultimate articulation. Three re- 

 markable genera. 



Genus Alcedo, Lin. King-Fisher. 



Beak triangular, long, straight and nearly pointed; tail 

 very short, [Both Continents.] 



Genus Merops, Lin. Bee-Eater. 



Beak elongated, arcuated and trenchant, with an elevated 

 ridge ; feet very short. [Old Continent.] 



Genus Buceros, Lin. Hornbill. 



Beak enormous, dentated, cellular and surmounted with a 

 prominence or with a simple swelling, varying with the age. 

 [India and Africa.] 



ORDER III. SCANSORLE* 



External toe directed backwards like the thumb, whence 

 results to them a more solid support, of which certain genera 

 take advantage in clinging to and climbing upon trees ; 

 sternum presenting nearly always two emarginations behind; 

 flight middling ; regimen fructivorous or insectivorous, ac- 

 cording as the beak is more or less robust ; they build their 

 nests in the trunks of old trees. Five remarkable genera. 



Genus Picus, Lin. Woodpecker. 



Beak long, straight, angular, the end compressed into a 

 wedge, and fitted for splitting the bark of trees; tongue 

 slender, armed near the tip with spines that curve backward, 

 and capable of being thrust far out of the beak ; tail com- 



* Climbers. 



