92 
ROOM XIIL lour, and agree in many characters with the Insectivo- 
Nat Hist. rous Birds, especially the Thrushes. Some have round¬ 
ed tails, as the Anabates, others have the ends of the 
tail feathers and the webs on each side of them, rigid, 
like the Woodpeckers, and use them in the same 
manner to support their bodies while they peck at the 
insects on the bark of trees. 
The Fissirostral Birds, or those 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; some 
have very short beaks, as the family of Swallows (same 
Case) with a close plumage, and extremely long wings, 
enabling them to fly with great rapidity; they are 
generally birds of passage, and often live in flocks, as 
the Swifts, which have all the toes in front; some have 
the end of the tail feather rigid like the Woodpeckers; 
the Esculent Swallow forms a nest of sea-weed, which 
is used as food in China, and forms no unimportant ar¬ 
ticle in the commerce of that country. 
The family of Goatsuckers (same Case) are noc¬ 
turnal 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 Podargus, from New 
Holland, is of a large size ; one species from Africa is 
very peculiar for having a very long feather arising 
from the middle of each of its wings. The family of 
Bee Eaters (same Case), which are generally of a 
green colour, have long, slightly arched beaks, and 
long pointed wings; they associate in flocks, and fly 
like swallows, pursuing bees and wasps, which they 
prey on with impunity. They are only found in the 
Old World and Australia. 
The Kmgzftshers (Cases 33 and 34) are generally of 
a brilliant blue, or green colour: they live on fish, 
which they catch by diving. The Humming Birds 
(same Case) have long, very slender bills, and long 
tongues, which they have the power of darting for¬ 
ward, 
