The CLIMBING BIRDS (_Scansor_) are for the most part recognisable by
their slender though powerful body, short neck, and large head. The
long or medium-sized beak is either strong and conical, or weak and of
a curved form; the feet are short, and the long toes either arranged
in pairs or placed together in the usual manner, and armed with long,
hooked, and sharp claws. The moderate-sized wing, which is usually rounded
at its extremity, and occasionally of great breadth, is never slender
or pointed; the formation of the tail is very various. Anything like a
general description of the plumage possessed by the different groups
of this order would be impossible; some, glittering with gay and even
resplendent colours, dart through the air like living gems, whilst others
are clad in such dull and sombre livery as to be scarcely distinguishable
from the earth or trees upon which they are formed to live. The various
representatives of the _Scansor_ may be said to occupy almost every region
of our earth; some groups are migratory, and leave their native lands
annually with the utmost regularity, whilst others remain throughout the
entire year within a certain limited district. Woods and forests are the
localities principally occupied by these birds, though they are by no
means incapable of ascending rocks, or seeking for their food upon the
ground, over the surface of which they run with considerable facility.
Their flight is good, but it is upon the trees alone that the _Scansor_
exhibit the full beauty and ease of their movements. All the members of
this order consume insects, and many devour fruit, berries, seeds, honey,
and the pollen of plants. As regards their powers of song they are by no
means gifted; indeed, the most highly endowed amongst them rarely rise
above the utterance of a few pleasing notes during the breeding season.
The construction of the nests of the _Scansor_ varies so considerably that
we shall confine ourselves to speaking of them in their appropriate places.
It is usual among systematic writers to associate many of the birds
which we have included in the present order as slender-billed forms of
one or other of the preceding divisions, more especially those usually
denominated TENUIROSTRES, and perhaps we shall be harshly judged for
our departure from the usual custom; be that as it may, the resemblance
between some of the Climbing Birds and some Singing Birds is undeniable,
and it is upon that ground that we treat of them in this place.
* * * * *
The TENUIROSTRAL species are distinguishable from all others by the
slenderness of their beak, which is usually more or less curved, and by
the feebleness of their feet, the toes of which are not arranged in pairs.
They may be grouped as follows:--
* * * * *
The FLOWER BIRDS (_Certhiola_) constitute a small group of South American
species, remarkable for the great beauty of their plumage. All possess a
slender body, moderate-sized wing, containing nine primaries (of which the
second, third, and fourth are the longest), and a somewhat soft-feathered
tail, of medium length. The beak is also of moderate size, much arched
at its base, and curved slightly inwards at its margins. The tongue is
long, divided, and thread-like at its tip, but not protrusible; the foot
is short and powerful. The sexes are readily distinguishable by the
diversity of their coloration, the plumage of the male being blue, and
that of the female usually green. All the members of this group closely
resemble our singing birds in their habits and mode of life; they subsist
upon insects, seeds, corn, and berries, in pursuit of which they hop from
branch to branch, with ever restless activity. According to the Prince
von Wied, they regard fruit of various kinds, particularly oranges, with
especial favour, and, when these are ripe, constantly venture into the
gardens, even close to dwelling-houses, with all the fearlessness of the
Domestic Sparrow; at other seasons they prefer to keep within the shelter
of well-wooded thickets. Their song, we believe, consists of but a single
note.
* * * * *
The BLUE BIRDS (_Cæreba_) are at once recognisable by their long, thin
beak, which is compressed at its sides, and slightly notched near its very
sharp tip; the wing is long and pointed, its second and third quills,
which are of equal size, exceeding the rest in length. The moderate-sized
tail is straight at its extremity; the legs are weak, and the tongue,
which is tolerably long, composed of two lobes, terminating in fringed
margins.