THE WORLD'S BIRDS. I05 



nests high up in a tree. The best known is the King 

 Crow of India and eastwards (Dicrurus ater), represented 

 by a very similar race in Africa. It is about as large as 

 a Starling, and commonly seen perched on telegraph- 

 wires or the backs of animals. The Bhimraj, or Racket- 

 tailed Drongo (Dissemurus paradiseus) , remarkable for 

 its crest, long racket-tipped outer tail-feathers and 

 powers of mimicry, is the only one well-known in 

 captivity. 



Dwarf Pittas (Xenicince) are tiny short-tailed birds, 

 only found in New Zealand and Stephens Island. 

 They are much smaller and duller than the true Pittas 

 (which are as large as Thrushes), and are often locally 

 called Wrens. The Dwarf Pittas build in holes. 



Finches (FringillincB) are found all over the world, 

 except in Australasia, where the so-called Finches reaUy 

 belong to the Weaver group, supposing this to be 

 distinct. They are, however, pre-eminently Northern 

 birds, and many are migratory. They never exceed 

 a Thrush in size, and are generally much smaller ; 

 their bill is short and conical, and the mouth turned 

 down at the corners. The wings are often long, but 

 the tail usually moderate and slightly forked. The 

 young are usually streaked in this group, and the males 

 often show a seasonal change. Their eggs are usually 

 spotted, and the nest open ; their food is chiefly vege- 

 table, especially consisting of seeds, which they husk 

 before swallowing them. They have long been well- 

 known cage-birds, being often good singers, and the 

 Canary (Serinus canaria) of the Atlantic islands is one 

 of the best known domestic birds. Its natural colour 

 is streaky olive-green, and it is hardly more than a 

 local race of the Continental Serin (S. hortulanus). The 

 " Wild Canary " of North America is the North 

 American " Goldfinch," really one of the Siskins 

 {Chrysomitris tristis). The male is yellow, with black 

 cap, wings and tail ; the female, olive-green. The 



