210 
AVES. 
both mandibles of which are serrated, and by having the tongue barbed like a feather, as in the 
Toucans ; [also short and round wings]. They are handsome birds, approaching the size of a Magpie, 
with lax feathers on the head, as in the Jays, [and similar loosely-webbed plumage generally,] a long 
graduated tail, the two middle feathers of which are stripped of their barbs in the adults for a short 
space near the end, which occasions a particular form of tail, [this singular mutilation being performed 
by the birds themselves]. They fly badly, live solitarily, nestle in holes [burrowed in sand-hills], 
subsist on [fruit and] insects, and even prey on small birds and other animals. 
[They are intermediate to the Bee-eater and Roller group, and that of the Toucans, but perfectly distinct from 
either : the stomach is stated by Le Vaillant to be tolerably fleshy. Six or seven species are known]. 
The Kingfishers {Alcedo^ Lin.) — 
Have feet still shorter than in the Bee-eaters, the beak longer, straight, angular, and pointed ; the 
tongue and [in some instances] the tail very short. Their sternum (fig. 98) has two posterior emargina- 
tions, as in the Boilers and Bee-eaters. They live on small fish, which they take by precipitating 
themselves into the water from some branch, [or ar- 
resting themselves suddenly during rapid flight, poising 
for an instant and then plunging], and return to their 
perch to gulp their prey, [which they first kill by 
repeatedly beating it against the bough]. Their sto- 
mach is a membranous sac, [the intestines very long 
and slender, and without coeca]. They nestle like the 
Bee-eaters in holes of banks, and are found in both 
continents. 
That common throughout Europe {A. ispida, Lin.), is little 
larger than a Sparrow, of a mottled verditer green above, 
with a broad band of splendid ultramarine-blue along the 
back; the under-parts rufous. [It exemplifies the group to I 
which Alcedo is now more particularly restricted, with lie-f 
ron-like beak, short and rounded wings, splendid colouring, and very short soft tail ; the members of which, all 
of small size, are peculiar to the eastern hemisphere. 
Others, with similar beak, have little or no vivid colouring, longer wings and tail, and some are of much larger 
size, — the Ceryle of Boi^. Species are found in both continents, and one (A. rudis, Lin.) inhabits the east of Eu 
rope. Of the natural group of Rollers, Bee-eaters, and Kingfishers, the present subdivision is the only one found 
in the New World. 'M, 
Numerous other species have lighter and inflated bills, resembling those of Storks ; the wings and tail as in 
Ceryle, the latter in a few instances uneven : they prey on insects, and some of the larger species on crustaceans, gii 
and are known as the Halcyons {Halcyon, Swainson). 
Others, again, inhabit desert regions, which they traverse in search of Snakes and other reptiles : they have the : 
general form of the Halcyons, with beak rather more approaching that of the true Kingfishers. They constitute 
\\\eDacelo of Leach, which comprehends the largest species of any: are peculiar to Australasia and Australia, 
in which latter country the most celebrated species (D. gigantea), is remarkable for its loud and grating 
prolonged cry, is not uncommon.] 
The Ceyx, Lacepede, — 
Fig. 98. — Sternum of Kingfisher. 
Merely differs from the ordinary Kingfisher in the absence of the inner toe. J|j 
There are three species in India, [which less require to be separated than the preceding], ^ 
The Todies {Todus, Lin.) — .W 
Are small American birds, nearly similar to the Kingfishers in their general form ; and which have the® j 
same feet and elongated bill, except that the latter is horizontally flattened, and [generally] obtuse atj| I 
its extremity, the tarsi being also more elevated, and the tail less shortened. [They have a small andj | 
tolerably muscular gizzard, and shorter intestines than perhaps any other bird, with great pediciliate,T ij 
dilated cceca, resembling those of the Owds : the sternum is doubly emarginated, and similar to that off I 
the Kingfisher (fig. 98), except that it is much shorter, with the crest very low': the tongue is pro-| i 
longed into a very thin lamina, like that of the Jacamars.] They live on insects, and nestle in the|i 
ground, [burrowing like the Kingfishers, but laying fewer eggs, which are spotted wdth buff or;|; 
rust-colour. 
' 41 
Three or four species are now known, all chiefly vivid-green, varied with other colours on the throat. They|=^l 
