10 
ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS. 
[UPPER 
tral Birds; Gases 74-83, the climbing or Scansorial Birds. These 
are all on the west side of the room. 
On the east side of the room, Cases 84-106 contain the Gallina- 
ceous Birds; Cases 107-134, the Wading Birds: and Cases 135-166 
the Web-footed Birds. 
Cases 1-27. Diurnal Birds of Prey. Some of the most interesting 
species are, the Condor, or Great Vulture of the Andes, which soars 
higher than any other bird ; the Turkey Buzzards, or Carrion Vultures, 
which clear away putrifying carcases, and are the most useful scaven- 
gers in the warmer parts of America ; the Eagles, the most formidable 
of which are the Harpy of South America and the Wedge-tailed Eagle 
of Australia; the Kites; the true Falcons, which are the most courageous, 
in proportion to their size, of all the Birds of Prey, and some of which 
are used in Falconry ; the Secretary Bird of South Africa, with its long 
legs, which kills venomous snakes, and derives its name from the 
plumes, like pens, on the side of the head. These obtain their food 
during the day. 
Of the nocturnal Birds of Prey, Cases 28-35, may be noticed the 
great Hawk and Eagle Owls ; the Snowy Owl of North Europe and 
America. The long feathers of the eared Owls must assist in col- 
lecting the slightest sound ; the birds themselves glide noiselessly 
through the air. 
Cases 36-83. The Perching Birds, divided into five great sections. 
Of the wide-gaped section, Cases 36. 37, may be specified the Goat- 
suckers, which fly about at night, and live on moths and beetles ; the 
Trinidad Goatsucker, or Fat-bird, is found in caves in South America; 
the fat of the young is used in cookery. The Leona Goatsucker of 
West iVfrica, with very long feathers appended to its wings, so that it 
looks like three birds when it flies. Case 38 contains the Swallows and 
Swifts, which pursue flies on the wing; their wings and tail are very 
long, their legs very short. The Esculent Swallow constructs its nest of 
a substance which w'hen dissolved in soups is esteemed a great luxury 
in China and elsewhere in the East. Case 39. The Todies, Rollers, 
Broadbills, and Motmots, living chiefly on insects and fruits ; the 
plumage of many of these is very showy. Case 40. The Trogons, living 
in low damp woods in the tropics, particularly of the New World ; one 
•of the most conspicuous is the long-feathered Quezal, a sacred bird 
of the ancient Peruvians. Cases 41, 42. The Kingfishers, large-billed 
birds with short tails, living on fish, insects, and other small animals, 
are generally of bright plumage. One of the largest and most 
sombre-coloured is the Laughing Kingfisher of Australia, which lives 
on snakes and reptiles ; the colonists call it the Jackass, from its loud 
and singular note. Case 43. Among the Tenuirostral Birds may be 
noticed the Hoopoes and Sunbirds of Africa and Asia ; the latter have 
brilliant metallic plumage, and have often been taken for Humming- 
birds ; they feed on the nectar of flowers and on insects which they find 
in the tubes of flowers. Case 44 contains the true Humming-birds, 
peculiar to America. The males are of the most resplendent colours. 
Among the finest may be mentioned the topaz, garnet-throated, 
