The Fissirostres, (fig.
118), like the Tenuirostres, are distinguished by a habit of feeding on the wing, but as their food, instead of vegetable juices, consists of living insects, the form of the beak is modified accordingly, and is re markable for its shortness and the wideness of its gape, especially in the typical families. In these the mode of catching the prey is con formable to their distinguishing characters ; they receive it in full flight into the cavity of their mouths, which remain open for that purpose, and where a viscous exudation within and a strong fence of vibrissa on the exterior, assist in secur ing the victim. The longer-billed Fissirostres, on the other hand, seize their food by their bills. The following are the families of the Fissirostral tribe : Hirundinide, Swallows ; Caprimulgide, Goat-suckers ; these are characterized by the short, wide, and weak bill. Todide, Todies ; Halcyonidee, King-fishers ; Meropide, Bee eaters ; these latter fa milies are characterized by their stronger and longer bill, and fur ther differ from the preceding in having the external toe nearly as long as the middle one to which it is united as far as the penultimate joint; they are therefore termed Syndactyles by Cuvier.
Fig.119 represents the foot of the King-fisher.
Order III. SCANSORES.
Feet with two toes before and one behind. (Fig.120.) The disposition of the toes which re sults from the ex ternal one being turned back like the thumb, gives the Scansores great fa cility in climbing the branches of trees, but proporti onally impedes their progression along level ground.* Their nests are less skilfully constructed than those of the Insessores, and are generally made in the hollows of old trees ; one family, indeed, is remarkable for depositing its eggs in the nests of other birds. Their powers of flight are moderate ;* their food consists of insects and fruit. The scansorial families are the Psittacide, Parrots ; Picida, Woodpeckers, Wry-necks ; Cuculicle, Cuckoos ; Rhamphas tide, Toucans.
Order IV. RASORES.
Upper mandible, vaulted ; nostrils, pierced in a membranous space at their base, covered by a cartilaginous scale. Legs, strong, mus cular; three toes before united at their base by a short membrane, and one behind, higher than the rest, furnished with short, blunt, and robust for the purpose of scratching up the food. i'ailfea
thers 14-18.
The food of the Scratchers, or gal-.
linaceous birds, be ing vegetable sub stances, as grains and seeds, they have a large crop and ex tremely muscular gizzard. They most ly deposit and hatch their eggs on the ground in a rudely constructed nest of straw. Each male has ordinarily many females, he takes no part in nidification or in rearing the young ; and these are generally numerous and able to run about and provide for themselves the mo ment they quit the shell.
The families of the Rasores are the Colum bide, or Dove-tribe ; Cracide, Curassow-birds ; Phasianidee, Pheasant, common Fowl ; Tetra onide, Grouse, Partridge.
Order V. CURSORES.
Wings very short, not used for flying; legs robust; Sternum without a keel.
This order includes the Brevipennes, which constitute a tribe of Waders (Grallw) in the Cuvierian system ; and form in the system of Mr. Vigors, a family of Rasores under the term Struthionide. They differ remarkably from one another, both in the form of the beak and feet, and each known species forms the type of either a separate genus or family.
The Coursers with a depressed beak have the longest and strong est legs, and run with remarkable velocity ; these include The Ostrich ( Stru thio Camelits) which has only two toes. ( Fig. 1 2 2 • ) •Ikk The Rhea (Rhea Ame ricana.) which have three The Cassowary ( Cas- toes, all turned for suar ills galeatus.) ward.
The Emeu ( Dromaius ater.) Of these four giants of the class the first inhabits the continent of Africa, the second South America, the third Java, and the fourth Australia.
The Coursers, with a compressed beak, are represented by a single and now extinct genus, the Dodo, ( Didus ineptus, Linn.) This bird is known from a description given by one of the early Dutch navigators, and preserved in Clusius ( Exoticoruin libri de em dcscr. 1605, pp. 99 and 100); by an oil painting of the same period, copied by Ed wards ( Gleanings, plate 294); from a de scription and figure in Herbert's Some Years Travels in Africa, Asia, 4-c. 1677 ; and from the Historic Naturalis et Medica, of Jacob 13ontius, 1658.