. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . s so named from the singular protuberance with which itsbill is surmounted : this is a smooth horny casque or helmet, curvingupwards from the bill, somewhat resembling the horn of the is a native of India and the islands of the Indian Ocean. The Fly-catchers {Muscicapidce) are a family of insectivorous birds,many of which are British, containing, according to Temminck,the Todies {Todus), distinguished by long, broad, and very flat bills,contract
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . s so named from the singular protuberance with which itsbill is surmounted : this is a smooth horny casque or helmet, curvingupwards from the bill, somewhat resembling the horn of the is a native of India and the islands of the Indian Ocean. The Fly-catchers {Muscicapidce) are a family of insectivorous birds,many of which are British, containing, according to Temminck,the Todies {Todus), distinguished by long, broad, and very flat bills,contracting suddenly at the tip; tail short, slender, and rounded ;legs long and weak; toes short, the outer one more or less united tothe middle one. T. viridis, the only species mentioned by this THE FLY-CATCHERS. 457 naturalist, has a bright green plumage above, whitish beneath;a scarlet throat; sides rose colour; and the tail-coverts yellow. Itis a native of South America and the Antilles; and Sir Hans Sloane,under the name of Green Humming-bird, describes it as one ofthe most beautiful small birds he ever saw. Mr. BroAvne states that. Fig. 180. —Rliinoceros Hornbill, it is a familiar little bird, and will often let a man come within a fewfeet to admire it before becoming alarmed. It keeps much aboutthe houses in country parts/ he adds, flies slow, and probably maybe easily tamed. It lives almost entirely on the ground, feeding on insects, whichit catches in the eveninsr. It builds its nest in the crevices on river 458 REPTILES AND BIRDS. banks, or in the soft rocks, in which it hollows out a dwelling by-means of its bill and feet. The King-fishers {Alccdo\ the Martin-fishers of some authors, foraia highly interesting group, of which Alcedo ispida (Fig. i8i) is theonly known species indigenous to Britain. M. Vigors finds anintimate resemblance between them and the Todies, The King-fishers are very singular birds. Their bill is strong, straight, andangular, being of immense length
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
