DEGLUBITORES. HUSKERS. 317 



are generally distributed with us, most of them however occur- 

 ring chiefly in the cultivated parts. Very few are strictly ar- 

 boreal, like the Crossbills, and equally few are those that, like 

 the Snowflake, reside on the ground ; but the greater number 

 seek their food chiefly on the latter, and resort to trees or shrubs 

 for shelter, protection, or repose. They are therefore fitted for 

 perching securely, as well as for moving with considerable 

 speed on the ground ; but their gressorial powders are much in- 

 ferior to those of the Rasores, Gemitores, and Vagatores, and 

 none of them, excepting the Lark-Buntings, are capable of run- 

 ning with speed. Being compact and muscular, with a consider- 

 able development of the wings and tail, they move through the 

 air with ease and velocity. Their sight is keen, but apparently 

 does not extend to great distances, so that in general they are 

 easily approached within shooting distance. Their small size 

 protects them in a great measure from man ; but their enemies 

 are numerous, and the small Rapacious Birds, and Carnivorous 

 Quadrupeds live chiefly at their expense. Their mental facul- 

 ties are not apparently of a high order, although their brain, 

 in proportion to the size of their body, is greater than that of 

 almost any other tribe of birds. In captivity they are gentle, 

 and to a considerable extent docile. 



All the species moult only once in the year ; but in many a 

 considerable change is effected in the colouring by the abrasion 

 of the extremities of the filaments of their plumage. Many 

 produce two broods in the season ; and as these are generally 

 pretty numerous, there must be a great annual destruction 

 among the species, otherwise their number would be much 

 greater. 



Among the Conirostres of authors are by some included the 

 Crows, Tits, Larks, and many other genera ; but the digestive 

 organs of the birds just named are difl:erent in several respects ; 

 their habits, external forms, and proportions exhibit much di- 

 versity, and their bills in particular, although in a modified 

 sense conical, are not more so certainly than those of a multi- 

 tude of genera which no one could dream of referring to this 

 order, such as the Woodpeckers, Gannets, and Divers. It is 

 in consequence of looking too exclusively to so vague a char- 



