Children's own library . color of this bird is a dusky black. The lengthis eight inches, the expanse of wing eighteen inches,and its weight barely one ounce. The Sand Martin principally builds in cliffs of sand-stone, boring holes three feet or more in depth. Wherea convenient sand-cliff exists, hundreds of these prettylittle birds may be seen working away at their habita-tions, or dashing about in the air, looking at a distancelike white butterflies, and occasionally returning tothe rock, which is often completely honeycombed bytheir labors. The Trogon. The Trogon stands pre-eminent i
Children's own library . color of this bird is a dusky black. The lengthis eight inches, the expanse of wing eighteen inches,and its weight barely one ounce. The Sand Martin principally builds in cliffs of sand-stone, boring holes three feet or more in depth. Wherea convenient sand-cliff exists, hundreds of these prettylittle birds may be seen working away at their habita-tions, or dashing about in the air, looking at a distancelike white butterflies, and occasionally returning tothe rock, which is often completely honeycombed bytheir labors. The Trogon. The Trogon stands pre-eminent inbeauty and brilliancy of plumage, the usual tint beinga metallic golden green, boldly contrasted with scarlet,black, and brown. The Resplendent Trogon is the most gorgeous of allthis gorgeous family. Its long and gracefully curvedtail, nearly three feet long, the whole of the upper sur- 126 WOODS NATURAL H1SXORY face, and the throat are a glowing green ; the breast andunder parts are bright crimson ; the middle feathers. THE KINGFISHER of the tail black, and the outer feathers white. Thissplendid bird is an inhabitant of Mexico, and was used woods natural history 127 by the Mexican nobles as an ornament to their head-dress. The Kingfisher. The common Kingfisher is foundin most parts of England. Its usual method offishing is by placing itself on a stump or stoneoverhanging the water, from which spot it watches forthe unsuspecting fish beneath. After a fish is caught,the bird kills it by beating it several times againstits resting-place, and then swallowing it, head fore-most. The Hoopoe, one of the most elegant birds that visitEngland, is unfortunately a very rare guest, and seldom,if ever, breeds there. Its beautiful crest can be raisedor depressed at pleasure, but is seldom displayed unlessthe bird is excited from some cause. Its food consistsof insects, which it first batters and moulds into anoblong mass, and then swallows, with a peculiar jerkof the head. In France Hoopoes
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidchildrensown, bookyear1910
