FRINGILLID^. 341 



and black colors, and build long pendulous nests, open lU the top, 

 in company. 



Another group, the Agelaiance, or Maize-birds, are usually clad 

 with orange or scarlet and black. They are of smaller size, have 

 shorter bills than the last family, are very destructive to grain, 

 and evidently grade into the FringilliJa. Among them is the 

 celebrated Cow-bird of the United States, the only bird besides 

 the Cuckoos that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. It is 

 the Molothrus pecoris, Auct. 



Certain birds of New Zealand and Oceanica, Aplonis, Gould, and 

 Creadion, Vieillot, are generally considered, and, perhaps correctly, 

 to belong to the Starling family ; but the Bower-birds of Australia, 

 PtilinorliynchincB, placed here by some, are very doubtful members 

 of this division, and, perhaps, belong to a particular section of the 

 Birds of Paradise, as suggested by Blyth, which, as already noticed, 

 used to be placed among the Conirostres, and are so still by many. 

 These Bower-birds and Satin-birds, Chlamydera and Plilino- 

 rhyiichus, are birds about the size of a Myna, and are noted for the 

 remarkable bower-like structure they make, and adorn with shells, 

 pebbles, small bones, and feathers ; and which does not appear 

 to serve for nidification, but simply for amusement, or a place of 

 resort for both sexes, which run through and around the bower in 

 a sportive and plaintive manner. 



Fara. Fringillid^. 



Bill short, thick, and conic ; wings usually long, pointed ; tail 

 moderate, even, forked in most; tarsus moderate or short; 

 feet suited both for perching and terrestrial habits ; of small 

 size. 



The Finches comprise a very large number of small birds, with 

 thick conical bills, which live for the most part on seeds, and 

 many are well known and familiar birds. They exhibit a great 

 variety of structure, varying much in the strength and thickness 

 of the bill. The tongue is somewhat more fleshy than in most 

 Insessores (except Parrots), but horny at the tip. The bill is 

 u?ually entire, more or less notched in one sub-family. The oesopha- 

 o-us is dilated into a craw or crop, in which the food is allowed 



