. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. SCANSOEES, OE CLIMBEES. regions of both continents. The most remarkable species is the Eesplendent Trogon (Fig. 194), indigenous to Mexico and Brazil. The plumage of this bird is of a magnificent emerald green frosted with gold: its head is surmounted by a beautiful tuft of the same colour. The daughters of the Caciques in the New World formerly used its feathers in their dresses. At the present time Creoles employ them for the same purpose. The
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. SCANSOEES, OE CLIMBEES. regions of both continents. The most remarkable species is the Eesplendent Trogon (Fig. 194), indigenous to Mexico and Brazil. The plumage of this bird is of a magnificent emerald green frosted with gold: its head is surmounted by a beautiful tuft of the same colour. The daughters of the Caciques in the New World formerly used its feathers in their dresses. At the present time Creoles employ them for the same purpose. The most com- mon species is the Trogon mexicanus (Fig- 195). TouKACos, or Plantain- EATEES {Musophagidce), are African birds, of which the general forms bear some analogy to the Hoccos. They live in forests, and perch upon the highest branches of trees: their flight is heavy and little Fig. 195. - Mexican Trogon (Trogim mexicanus^ Gould). Woodpeckers. The birds which compose this family are characterised by a rather long, conical, pointed beak, and by a very extensible tongue. They form two genera, Woodpeckers and Wry-necks. Woodpeckees excel in the art of climbing, but they do not per- form it in the same manner as Parrots. They accomplish their ascensions by extending their toes, supplied with bent claws, upon the trunk of a tree, and maintain themselves hanging there ; then move themselves a little farther by a sudden and jerked skip, and so on. These movements are facilitated by the disposition of the tail, formed of straight resistant feathers, slightly worn away at their extremities, which, pressed against a tree, serve as a support to the bird. Thanks to this organisation. Woodpeckers traverse trees in every direction—downwards, upwards, or hori-. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original wo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
