The WOOD-HEWERS constitute a group of over 200 species, all of which are South American. They are for the most part small and dull-coloured birds, but nevertheless of considerable interest on account of their nest-building habits. The most remarkable members of the family in this respect are three species of OVEN-BIRDS. These construct a massive nest of mud, bearing a more or less fanciful resemblance to a baker’s oven; hence the name Oven-bird. Roughly globular in shape, its walls are of great thickness, and to prevent cracking hair and grass-fibres are intermixed with the mud; the interior is gained through a small hole on one side of the nest, which leads into a passage terminating in a chamber containing the eggs, which are laid upon a bed of grass. Strangely enough, the bird seeks the most exposed

Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons. BELL-BIRD., So called from its wonderfully clear, bell-like note.

situations, placing its nest on branches, in the forks of trees, on posts, rocks, or house-tops. Another species, known to the Spaniards as the CASARITA, or LITTLE HOUSE-BUILDER, builds its nest at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizontally underground for nearly six feet. Other species build nests of sticks and twigs or of grass, which are divided into chambers after the fashion of the mud nest of the oven-bird, the inner chamber being lined with wool and feathers.

The variation in the form, habits, and coloration of these birds is very great, some recalling the Woodpeckers and Tree-creepers, others the Titmice.

The family of the TYRANT FLY-CATCHERS, though numbering some 400 species, is less interesting, or rather contains fewer peculiar forms, than the Manakin Family. The tyrant fly-catchers are American birds, and represent the fly-catchers of the Old World. One of the best known is the KING-BIRD, which is renowned rather for its pugnacious disposition than for beauty of plumage. The CRESTED TYRANT-BIRD has a curious habit of lining its nest with the cast-off skins of snakes, a habit which has caused a great deal of discomfort both to juvenile as well as adult egg-collectors, who, recognising the skin by the touch, have hurriedly withdrawn the hand, lest the owner of the cast-off coat should be in the vicinity.

All the tyrant-birds are active and restless in their habits, and frequent marshy districts, sitting alone, perched on the dead branches of trees or bushes, whence they dart forth like the Old World fly-catchers on their prey. Some species, however, frequent bare plains; others, also ground-dwellers, associate occasionally in flocks.

Though the prey, which consists chiefly of insects, is, as a rule, captured on the wing, it is not invariably so. One species, for example, pounces down on crawling beetles, grasps them in its claws, photo by A s Rudland & &ns and eats them on the ground. Some other COCK-OP-THE-ROCK. Species eat mice, yOUng birds, Snakes, frOgS, The codc-of-the-rock is a South American bird, of gorgeous coloration. fishes, spiders, and worms, the larger victims being beaten on a branch to kill them. One or two species will eat seeds and berries,

The nest is often domed, and skilfully felted with moss, lichens, and spider-webs.

The BROAD-BILLS are the sole representatives of the final sub-division of the Perching-birds. After the brilliant coloration, the next most striking feature is the great breadth of the bill. Their range is very limited, extending from the lower spurs of the Himalaya, foreststhrough Burma and Siam, to Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. They seek the seclusion of in the neighbourhood of water, exhibiting great partiality for the banks of rivers and lakes, and feeding on worms and insects, many of the latter being captured on the wing.

The nest of the broad-bill is a large and not very neat structure, oval in shape, with an entrance near the top, which is often protected with an overhanging roof. It is generally suspended from a low branch or plants near the water, and made of twigs, roots, and leaves, laid.and lined with finer materials. From three to five eggs are

With these birds, probably the most primitive of the Perching-birds, this section ends.

;Many forms have inevitably been crowded out, whilst others have been but briefly noticed nevertheless, all the really important groups have been more or less completely described, and in the majority of cases well illustrated.

photo by A s Rudland & &ns COCK-OP-THE-ROCK.

Photo by W. Saville Kent, F.Z.S., Milford-on-Sea.

GREEN AND OCELLATED LIZARDS.

The former species is found in the South of England, as well as on the Continent; the latter is restricted to Southern Europe and North Africa.

UNIV. OF

CALIFORNIA

UNIV. OF

CALIFORNIA

BOOK III. REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS.

BY W. SAVILLE-KENT, F.L.S., F.Z.S.

REPTILES.

CHAPTER I.

CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS.

Reptile Class, as defined by modern scientific limitations, includes among the living animals of the world the several groups of the Crocodiles, the Tortoises and Turtles, theTHE

Tuatera, the Lizards, and the Snakes. In the popular mind the Frogs and Toads, and the Newts and Salamanders, are often held to belong to the same main section; but these, as hereafter shown, claim, as Amphibians, an independent position of equivalent rank and value. In bygone geological ages the Reptile Class embraced a considerably larger number of groups; some of the members, such as the extinct Dinosaurs, comprised titanic monsters from 60 to 80 feet in length. The Crocodiles and Alligators of the present day are the only living reptiles which in any way approach the extinct Saurians in their dimensions, or assist us in some small measure to realise their unwieldy forms and bulk.

The members of the Crocodile Order, which, in addition to the Alligators, includes also the Caimans and so-called Gavials or Garials, agree with one another in the more or less ponderous lizard-like shape of their body, supported on well-developed but short and comparatively weak legs, in their special adaptation to an amphibious existence, carnivorous habits, and restriction to tropical and subtropical climates.

Among the salient characters of the CROCODILE, as the representative of its tribe, which specially adapt it for its aquatic habits, the long, powerful tail is strongly Park.compressed and thus Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S.] [Regent's fitted for use as an YOUNG NILE CROCODILE. organ of propulsion, This species was worshipped with divine honours and mummified after death by the ancient Egyptians. 545 69

and the feet are more or less webbed. The most striking of its structural adaptations is, however, associated with the formation of the creature's skull. The manner in which a crocodile or alligator contrives to breathe or to save itself from asphyxiation, when opening and shutting its mouth under water, as it may often be observed to do in the Kegent's Park Menagerie, is a common source of wonderment to the onlooker. This seemingly difficult feat is compassed by virtue of the posterior nostrils, or breathing-passages, Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S.] [Regent's Park. being set so far back in the YOUNG BROAD-SXOUTED CROCODILE. skull, and being so completely A native of West Africa, remarkable for the extreme shortness and great breadth of its nozzle. cut off from the mouth-cavity by specially developed bones of the palate, that they have no intercommunication with the mouth. It is this mechanism which enables a crocodile to seize and hold an animal underneath the water between its open jaws until it is drowned. Special valves at the it is ableback of the mouth prevent any water running down the creature's throat, while itself to breathe unrestrainedly by allowing just the tip of its elongated snout, with the anterior nostril-apertures, to remain above the water's surface. In many species a conspicuous knoblike bony excrescence is developed at the extremity of the snout, by which the nostril-openings are raised turret-wise above the surface of the water. The eyes also being usually elevated above the level of the creature's head, the crocodile is able to approach its floating or bank-side prey practically unperceived, its huge body, limbs, and even the head, with the exception of the nose and eyes, being totally submerged. Although capable of moving with great activity in the water, crocodiles and their allies are usually accounted sluggish and slow movers on the land. Seen basking in the sun, as is their wont, by the hour together on some sand-bank or creeping lazily thereon

Photo by Korman B. Smith, Esq. A DEAD CROCODILE. among their fellows, such a A man-eating individual. This particular animal has just been shot. The natives in the back- conclusion is natural. The ground give a good idea of its size little less than 20 feet long. celerity, however, with which

Crocodiles and Alligators 547

even a huge 25-footer, as witnessed by the writer in the Norman Eiver, North Queensland, will make tracks for and hurl itself into the water, if disturbed during its midday siesta by the near impact of a rifle-bullet, is a revelation. Crocodiles, moreover, as might be inferred from the slit-like contour of the eye-pupil, as shown by daylight, are to a large extent nocturnal, displaying their greatest activity, and being in the habit of travelling long distances along and away from the river-banks in search of food, or in connection with their migratory or mating instincts, under the cover of darkness.

Of all living animals the crocodile and its allies are probably equipped most efficiently for both defence and aggression. The thick, horny shields, quadrangular on the back, tail, and under-surface, and adapted in shape and size to cover the head, limbs, and sides, constitute an almost impenetrable cuirass. As weapons of offence the formidable array of trenchant teeth, with which the powerful jaws are armed, have not alone to be reckoned with by the victim assailed. The crocodile's limbs and claws are relatively weak, and incapable of aggressive

Photo by Mr. W. Rau]

A CROCODILE.

Xote the massive character of the tail, a weapon wherewith the creature can disable a horse or an ox, or sweep smaller prey into the water.

mischief; but in the long, compressed, muscular tail the reptile possesses a terribly effective weapon, wherewith, with one swift, unexpected side-stroke, it will sweep a smaller animal into the water, or deal a blow of sufficient power to fell or disable a man or bullock. Thus well-nigh invulnerable, and cognisant of its marvellous power of jaw and tail, a full-grown crocodile will not hesitate to try conclusions with even such puissant adversaries as the bear, the tiger, and other large carnivora, when they approach the river's brink to drink. Not infrequently, too, the crocodile comes off the victor in these contests; while, as sometimes happens, both of the well-matched foes are found dead side by side at the waters edge. The dread in which crocodiles are held by the natives of tropical countries, and the heavy toll they levy upon the riverside population, and more especially the women-folk in their accustomed itavocations of water-carrying or laundry work, are too familiar to need dissertation. Hence is that in every country, excepting those particular locations where the creature is a subject ol misguided veneration or fetish worship, it may be said that every man's hand is against them, and the enmity most cordially reciprocated.

Page 37 of 92