150 
TODTJS. 
pearance gave warning to some hapless insect which 
could fly, and the attempt was made, the tody 
would then make a little saltus, or jumping flutter, 
two or three inches from the branch, and peradven- 
ture seize the insect ; but if not, it would still 
continue its search for others, as if its wings were 
too feeble to sustain that sudden and vigorous flight 
which the true flycatchers can employ when so 
engaged. Now, as the species above alluded to is 
a typical example of the whole group, we may 
fairly and justly suppose that such are the typical 
habits ; nor will this at all interfere with the fact 
that has been stated (but on somewhat questionable 
authority) regarding the green tody, which is said 
to frequent the ground in search of food as well as to 
frequent trees. "Whether such a union exists in 
one and the same species may well be questioned ; 
but the group, however small, would not be a 
natural one, did it not contain one which was to 
give us the rasorial or the grallatorial habit of walking 
on the ground, no less than another, which had the 
tail more developed than usual. The todies, — we 
are still speaking of the most typical species, — have 
..‘lie rictus or gape very slightly bristled* ; and, in 
some species, these bristles are nearly obsolete. 
We infer from this, that the food of these birds 
consists of small weak insects, probably larvae, ra- 
, ther than of such as are able to make vigorous 
struggles in tljeir attempts, when caught, to escape ; 
* PlatyrJiynchus, as will presently appear, is the sub-typical 
form. 
