PASSERINiE. 



199 



We subdivide them first into 



The Weavers (Ploceus, Cuv.), — 



The beak of which is so large that some of them have been classed with the Cassicans ; but the 

 straightness of its commissure distinguishes that of the latter, and the upper mandible is moreover slightly 

 bulging. These birds are found in both continents, and the greater number of those of the eastern 

 hemisphere are remarkably skilful nest-builders, which interweave blades of grass, a circumstance 

 from which they derive their name. 



Such is the Philippine Weaver-bird (Loxia PMlippina, Lin.). — Yellow, spotted with brown; throat black. Its 

 spherical pensile nest is entered by a vertical canal, which communicates with a lateral opening of the cavity 

 wherein the eggs are deposited. 



Some of them build a vast number of contiguous nests, which form a single mass divided into numerous com- 

 partments ; as 



The Social Weaver-bird (Loxia socia, Lath.) 



Among those of America, [which have been very properly separated, first into 



The Bobalinks (Dolychonyx, Swainson) — 

 Which have stiff pointed tail-feathers], we may distinguish 



The Rice-bird of the United States (Oriolus niger and orizivorus, and Corrus surinamensis, Gm.), innumerable 

 flocks of which devastate the cultivated fields of several of the warmer parts of that continent. 



Nomenclators have not yet succeeded in reducing to order the various black birds of America, more or less allied 

 to the Cassicans, [near which the Bobalinks should be also placed]. 



The Sparrows (Pyryita, Cuv. [Passer, Ray] ) 



Have the beak rather shorter than in the preceding, conical, and merely a little bulged towards the 

 point. 



[There are five species in Europe, of which two inhabit Britain ; the House Sparrow (Fring. domesfica, Lin.), 

 and the Tree Sparrow (F. montana, Lin.), — which latter has a maronne-coloured head, with the chin, and a spot 

 on each side of the neck, black, its plumage being precisely alike in both sexes, and even the nestling young, and 

 corresponding in its general character with that of the adult male only of the others There are several more, all 

 peculiar to the eastern hemisphere. The beak is always black in summer, horn-colour in winter. 



We have observed that the common House Sparrow, like most other birds that nestle upon buildings, (as the 

 Starling, Jackdaw, Rook, Pigeon, Swallow, &c), breeds in considerable numbers in the cliffs along the sea-coast, 

 which is doubtless its aboriginal nesting-place.] 



The Chaffinches (Fringilla, Cuv.) — 

 Have the beak less arcuated than in the Sparrows, stouter and more elongated than in the Linnets. 



There are three in Europe. The Common or White-winged Chaffinch (Fring. ccelehs, Lin.); the Mountain 

 Chaffinch, or Brambling (F. montifiingWa, Lin), [which visits Britain in winter] ; and the Snow-finch (F. nivalis, 

 Lin.), which nestles in the high Alps, and descends only in the depth of winter to the secondary ranges. [This 

 bird, now generally ranking as the Montifringilla nivalis of Brehm, absolutely resembles the Common Snowfleck 

 in all but the shape of its beak, which latter even becomes quite black in summer, as in that species : it affords, 

 accordingly, one of the very numerous proofs that the value of the form of the bill, as a zoological character indi- 

 cative of affinity, has been much over-estimated by systematists. In the true Chaffinches, the bill turns dark 

 bluish in summer]. 



The Goldfinches (Carduelis, Cuv.) — 

 Have an exactly conical beak, without any bulging; the tip prolonged to a sharp point. 



[There are two groups of them, characterized by plumage, and a slight difference of habit : in the first, the 

 colouring is gay, the beak pale flesh-coloured in summer, and its point further attenuated. These are more parti- 

 cularly designated Goldfinches. 



But two are known, the common European species (C. elegans), and another in the Himmalaya mountains of 

 Asia (C. raiiinpx, < ; « m Id ) . The first is well known as a pleasing songster. 



The rest have a shorter bill, and less elongated form ; the plumage variegated black and yellow, with always a 

 black crown. They are commonly termed Siskins. 0( numerous species, two only inhabit Europe, and one the 

 British islands (F. spinas, Lin.).] 



The Linnets (Linaria, Bechst. [Linvta, Bonap.] ) 

 Have also an exactly conical bill, but which is less elongated. 



In some, however, its tip is comparatively drawn out. [These are generally known as Rcd/mlrs ; of which there 

 are several species, not easy to discriminate : twooccuT in Britain — the Common or Small RedpoleOF. Minor, Lin.), 

 and the Mealy or Stone Redpoie (L. canetcetu, Gould), which latter is linger and stouter, with a whitish rump, 

 that is scarcely tinged with the pink SO conspicuous in the other. 



