THE TODY. 
49 
has an air of stupidity when thus seen ; but this abstrac- 
tion is more apparent than real; if we watch it^ we shall 
see that the odd-looking grey eyes are glancing hither and 
thither^ and that, ever and anon, the bird sallies out upon 
a short feeble flight, snaps at something in the air, and re- 
turns to his twig to swallow it. It is instructive to note 
by how various means the wisdom of God has ordained a 
given end to be attained. The swallow and the tody live 
on the same prey — insects on the wing ; and the short, hol- 
low, feeble wings of the latter are as effectual to him as the 
long and powerful pinions are to the swallow. He has no 
powers to employ in pursuing insects, but he waits till they 
come within his circumscribed range, and no less certainly 
secures his meal"^.''^ 
The tody, with its beak and feet, forms holes in banks 
of earth to the depth of eight inches or more. These holes 
are winding, and at the bottom is placed the nest, which is 
constructed of fibres and dry moss and cotton. Mr. Hill 
has given a detailed description of the digging habits of the 
tody, and informs us that the Spaniards of Hispaniola call 
the bird Barrancali, from the earthy ravine- cliffs in which 
* Birds of Jamaica, pp. 73, 74. 
E 
