285 



§\x t\t ®nittIjolo3i) of Milts, 



No. 8.— INSESSORES (Perchers). 

 Dentirostres (tooth-hilled). 

 ^HE second great order of birds, the "Perchers," contains so 

 fi many species, that in order to avoid confusion (as I have 

 before shown, Vol. i. p. 112), it was found necessary to sub-divide 

 it generally into tribes, before descending to investigate the fa- 

 milies which compose it : and perhaps we shall be prepared to 

 examine these several families and their component species with 

 the greater assiduity and accuracy, when we consider that it em- 

 braces not only those vast flocks of the finch and sparrow tribe, 

 which throng our yards in the winter, and those great colonies of 

 the rook and crow tribe which surround our homesteads, but also 

 all the warblers and small birds which fill our gardens, woods, and 

 fields in the summer, whose active forms delight our eye, and whose 

 varied notes charm our ear so continually : in short, so extensive 

 numerically as well as specifically is this order, that I suppose I 

 shall be within bounds when I say that almost all the birds (perhaps 

 not less than 99 out of every 100,) that usually come under our 

 notice in this inland county, belong to the Perchers. The first 

 tribe of tliis order is that of the tooth-billed, or notch-billed, (Den- 

 tirostres,) and includes the principal insect-eating families of the 

 order : foremost of which stand 



LANIADiE (the Butcher birds). 

 I have before remarked (Vol. i. p. 110,) what a connecting link 

 the butcher birds, or shrikes, form with the last mentioned family, 

 the owls ; and indeed, these may well be termed diminutive birds 

 of prey, or Falcons of the insect world, so fierce and savage is their 

 disposition, so cruel and blood-thirsty their habits, though at the 

 same time tlieir slender limbs and feet prove them to be true Per- 

 chers : they also merit the foremost place in the tribe Dentirostres, 



