Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/172

Rh in structure with the Swifts, in points almost exclusively peculiar to them, are the more singular, because these birds do not manifest any affinity, nor even resemblance in their general form, or in their habits.

The Colies are birds confined to Africa and India; they live much in trees, climbing about somewhat in the manner of Parrots; they are social in disposition, living in large flocks, and even breeding in society, constructing numerous nests in the same bushes. It is reported that they sleep suspended from a branch, with their heads downwards, many of them together; and that when the weather is cold, as it sometimes is in South Africa, they are found so benumbed in the morning, that they may be readily taken one after another, without an effort to escape. This curious statement is given by no less accurate an observer than Le Vaillant.

As the Family under consideration comprises but this single Genus, its characters may be considered as already given in part; they may, however, be thus summed up. The beak is short, strong, conical, slightly compressed, entire, with the mandibles equal, and the edges arched; the nostrils rounded; the wings short, the third quill longest; the tail greatly lengthened, and diminishing from the centre to the sides, the external feathers being short; the claws arched and long, that of the hind toe shorter than the others.