. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. BEE-EATERS, MOTMOTS, TODIES, COLIES, TROGONS i i i These two, as well as the members of the genus to which the British bird belongs, ap- parently breed in colonies. Unfortunateh' for the bee- eater, its flesh is palatable, whilst its phmiage is in great demand for millinery purposes. Its persecution is of long stand- ing, since more than 300 j'cars ago Belon witnessed a particu- larly cruel experiment practised bythebo3-s in Crete. Transfix- ing a beetle with a bent pin, to the head of
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. BEE-EATERS, MOTMOTS, TODIES, COLIES, TROGONS i i i These two, as well as the members of the genus to which the British bird belongs, ap- parently breed in colonies. Unfortunateh' for the bee- eater, its flesh is palatable, whilst its phmiage is in great demand for millinery purposes. Its persecution is of long stand- ing, since more than 300 j'cars ago Belon witnessed a particu- larly cruel experiment practised bythebo3-s in Crete. Transfix- ing a beetle with a bent pin, to the head of which a thread was tied, and then holding its other end with their hand, they would let the insect fly. The bee-eater, which catches most of its prey on the wing, would dart upon it, and, swallowing the bait, be caught by the hook. Not unlike the Bee-eaters in general appearance and coloration, the MuTMOTS are birds of peculiar interest, and this on accoimt of a remarkable habit of one of their tribe — a habit which is perfectl}' unique, and to which we shall return present!}'. Belonging, as we have already remarked, to the New World, they range from Southern Mexico to Paragua\', inhabiting dense forests, and being but rarely seen. The plumage is somewhat loose in character — green, blue, cinnamon, and black in colour. The beak has the margins serrated, or saw-like; whilst the feet resemble those of the Kingfishers and Bee-eaters. As with the Bee-eaters, no nest is made. The eggs, three or four in number and cream}' white in colour, are deposited in a hole bored by the birds themselves in a tree or bank, both sexes sharing in the work of incubation. Their food consists of insects caught in the air, small reptiles, and fruit. The remarkable habit to which we have referred is displa\'ed by the species known as the Racket-tailed Motmot, from the fact that the two middle tail-feathers project beyond the others, and have the greater part of the shaft bare, but terminating in a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
