XVlil SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT 



51. LoxTA (Crossbill). Bill thick at tlie base ; both mandibles 

 equally curved, hooked at the tips, and crossing each other at the 

 points. Page 226. 



Family III. Sttjrnid^. 



(starlings.) 



Beak nearly straight, short at the base, diminishing regularly to 

 a sharp point, which is not distinctly notched ; the ridge of the 

 upper mandible ascends upon the forehead, dividing the plumage 

 of that pai't. An extensive and A\idely diffused family, comprising 

 species for the most part above the average size of Passerine birds 

 (CoNiROSTREs), yet mferior to the Crows. They are in general social, 

 feeding m.uch on the ground ; their legs and feet are robust, their 

 gait stately, their plumage, though commonly of dark colours, is 

 lustrous, with reflections of steel-blue, purple, or green. * 



52. Agelaitjs (Red- winged Starling). " Bill shorter than the 

 head, stout, straight, conical, tapering to an acute point. Nostrils 

 basal, oval, with a small operculum. "Wings of moderate length, 

 with the outer four quill-feathers nearly equal. Tail rather long, 

 rounded. Legs and feet strong. " — Yarrell. Page 2'^. 



53. Sttjrnus (Starling). Bill straight, forming an elongated 

 cone, depressed, broad at the base, bluntish ; upper mandible 

 broader than the lower; nostrils at the base of the bill, partly 

 closed by an arched membrane; wings long; first primary very 

 short, second longest. Page 233. 



54. Pastor (Pastor). Bill slightly arched, forming an elon- 

 gated cone, compressed; nostrils at the base of the bill partly 

 covered by a feathery membrane ; wings with the first primary very 

 short, second and third longest. Page 236. 



Family IV. Corvid^. 



(crows.) 



Beak powerful, more or less compressed at the sides ; upper man- 

 dible more or less arched to the point ; gape nearly straight ; nostrils 

 concealed by stiff bristles. Birds of firm and compact structure ; 

 their wings long, pointed, and powerful ; their feet and claws robust. 

 In disposition bold and' daring, extremely sagacious, easily tamed 

 and made familiar. Most of them have the power of imitating 

 various sounds, but their natural voices are harsh. They evince a 

 remarkable propensity for thieving and hiding brilliant and gaudy 

 substances. In appetite they are omnivorous. 



55. Fregilits (Chough). Bill longer than the head, rather 

 slender, arched from the base, and pointed ; nostrils oval ; feet 

 strong, tarsus longer than the middle toe ; wings rounded, first 

 primary short, fourth and fifth the longest ; tail even at the end. 



Page 237. 



* Gosse's Natural History, Birds, p. 143. 



