75 
The family of Woodpeckers ( Picidce ), Case No. 15, 
have a straight robust bill, and the toes placed in pairs, 
two before and two behind, as the Woodpecker (. Picus ), 
and the Wryneck( Yunx). 
The family of Creepers ( Certhiadce ), in the same 
Case, on the contrary, have the toes placed like the 
majority of perching birds, and a slender bill, as the 
Creeper ( Certhia ), Wren ( Troglodytes ), the Hoopoe 
( Upupa ), and the Nuthatch (Sitto). 
The family of Cuckoos ( Cuculidce ), in this Case, 
have the same kind of feet as the Woodpeckers, but 
the bill is more or less curved, as the Cuckoo ( Cucu - 
lus), and the Coccyzus. 
Lastly. The Fissirostral Birds (Fissirostres), 
in the same Case, have a broad bill with a wide gape, 
long wing, and short weak legs. 
The family of Bee-eater ( Meropidce .), have elongated, 
rather strong bills, as the Roller ( Coracias ), and the 
Bee-eaters ( Merops ). 
The family of Kingfishers (Haleyonidce), of which 
only one species is known in this country, have a long 
four-sided beak, and their toes united at the base. 
The two remaining families have very short w T eak bills, 
and a very wide gape, which enables them to catch the 
insects on which they feed whilst on the wing, as the 
family of Swallows (Hirundinidce ), which fly by day, 
viz. the Swallows ( Hirundo ), and Swifts ( Cypselus ), and 
the Goat-suckers ( Caprimulgus ), which only fly in the 
evening; the last have the soft feathers, and much of 
the habits of the Owl. 
The third order, or Rasorial Birds ( Rasores ), have 
long muscular legs, fit for walking, short wings, and 
blunt claws. They live chiefly on the ground, and 
are divided into four families. 
The family of Pigeons ( Columbidce ), Cases No. 16 
and 17, consist of only one genus ( Columba)-, their feet 
and tail are formed like the perching birds, but the 
base of the upper mandible is covered with a soft 
tumid membrane, in which the nostril is pierced. 
The 
ROOM XII. 
Nat. Hist. 
