24 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
[EAST. ZOOL. 
and the ear-conch large, furnished with an operculum. Some species 
have egrets. The true Owls ( Strigince , Case 35) have the facial disc 
very large, occupying each side of the head; the wings long and tail 
short. 
The Perching Birds (Passeres, Case 36—83) are generally 
smaller than the Raptores, their bills are weaker, and their claws slender 
and acute ; like them, they have the hind toes articulated on the same 
plane with the front ones, which enables them to grasp their perch with 
ease and security. They are separated into five divisions, according to 
the form of the feet and bill, each division containing several families 
and genera. 
The Passeres of Linnseus, which contain the greater part of these birds, 
have three toes in front and one behind. The two front outer toes are 
generally united together at their base. 
The wide-gaped Passerine Birds, or Fissirostres, which feed 
chiefly on the wing, have generally very short, weak feet, and large 
gaping mouths ; they live principally on insects, though a few of the 
larger kinds catch fish. 
The family of Goat-suckers ( C aprimulgid^e, Cases 36 and 37) are 
nocturnal birds, and have the soft downy plumage and dingy colours of 
that tribe. They are generally solitary, living on moths, and laying 
their eggs on the ground without any nest. The enormous width of 
their mouth, which is furnished with stiff lengthened bristles, is capable 
of engulphing large lepidopterous insects, which are retained there by 
a glutinous saliva. The rushing of the air into their immense mouth 
while on the wing, produces a very peculiar humming sound. The 
Podarges ( Podargince , Case 36) are of a large size with a strong curved 
bill festooned on the margin, which in some is also dilated; their hind 
toe is not directed forwards. The fat of Steatornis is employed in 
cooker} 7 , and it furnishes a large quantity of manure. The Goat-suckers 
( Caprimulgince , Cases 36 and 37 ) have a very short w’eak bill, wjth the 
gape extending far beneath the eyes, furnished more or less with bristles. 
All the toes are directed forwards, and the lateral toes are of equal 
length. The Scortornince (Case 37) differ from the preceding by 
their lateral toes being unequal in length. The Macrodipteryx is pe¬ 
culiar for having a long-stemmed feather arising from the middle of its 
wings. The Podager chases insects in full daylight. 
The family of Swallows ( Hirundinid^e, Case 38) have a close 
plumage, short bill, extremely long w 7 ings, and fly with great rapidity; 
they are generaly birds of passage, and often live in flocks. The Sw'ifts 
( Cypselince , Case 38) have a very weak triangular depressed bill; their 
wings excessively long and curved; their tarsi very short, and they walk 
with their toes all directed forwards. The Esculent Swallows are famed 
for their nest, which is composed of a gelatinous substance that is found 
on the rocks of Java, &c. The Chinese highly esteem them as food, 
and they form no unimportant article in the commerce of that country. 
The Swallows ( Uirundinince , Case 38) have a stronger bill, and the 
hind toe is inserted on the back part of the tarsus. 
The family of Todies (Todid^e, Case 39) have a depressed flattened 
beak, blunt at the end, with the gape very wide, and extending under 
the eyes; legs generally short, and a short tail. They live on flies, 
berries, &c. The Rollers ( Coraciance, Case 39) have a strong broad 
