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THE JAVAN TODY . 
whole of the upper surface is a light green, the flanks are rose-colored, deepening into scarlet 
upon the throat and fading into a pale yellow upon the abdomen and under tail-coverts. The 
under surface of the wings is bare. These tints may be easily examined, even during the life 
of the bird, for the Green Tody is a sluggish creature, and so disinclined to move, that it may 
be approached quite closely, and watched as it sits with its head sunk beneath its shoulders, 
and its bill projecting, as if without life or sensation. 
It has but little power of wing, flying always near the ground, and never venturing on a 
long aerial journey. From this habit of remaining near the earth, it is popularly known by 
the name of Ground Parrot. The food of the Green Tody is chiefly of an insect nature, and 
the bird is able to secure its prey as they crawl about in the muddy banks of ponds or rivers. 
It also searches the grass and herbage for insects, and catches them with much adroitness. 
The nest of this bird is placed on the ground, generally in some hole in a river’ s bank, but 
often in a depression made for the purpose, and is built of dried grasses, moss, cotton, feathers, 
and similar substances. The eggs are 
four or five in number, of a bluish 
gray, diversified with bright yellow 
spots. The length of this bird is 
barely four inches. There is another 
species of Tody ( Todus mexicdnus ), 
inhabiting the same country. 
The Javan Tody is a truly re- 
markable bird, and is so curiously 
formed that its proper position in 
the kingdom of birds has long been 
uncertain. 
The extraordinary beak of this 
bird is shorter than the head, and at 
its base is wider than the portion of 
the head to which it is attached. 
The centre toes are connected to- 
gether as far as the second joint. 
This bird is a native of Java and 
Sumatra, and in many of its habits 
resembles the green Tody. It feeds 
mostly on aquatic insects, worms, 
and larvae, which it obtains from the 
banks of the rivers near which it 
loves to dwell. It does not keep so 
closely to the earth as the green 
Tody, but builds a pendent nest, 
hanging to the slender bough of 
some tree that grows near the water. 
Although not a very rare bird, it is 
but seldom seen, owing to its habit 
of withdrawing itself to the most inaccessible wooded lands of its native country, and there 
taking up its residence near the swampy grounds that are often found within the precincts 
of vast forests. 
It is rather variable in its plumage ; some specimens having a black bar across the chest. 
In all cases it is a striking bird, owing to the forcible contrast between the deep velvet purple 
of the back and the bright golden yellow with which it is relieved. Another species, belonging 
to the same genus, the Hooded Eurylaimus ( Euryldimus ochromalus), is still more beautiful, 
on account of the delicate rose hue with which its throat is tinted, and the bold black, white, 
and yellow marking of the remainder of the plumage. 
GREEN TODY .— Todus viridis. 
