CONIllOSTRES. 221 



deep black ; forehead and under parts pure white, 

 also the scapular feathers. In a native specimen 

 before us, the tail is entirely black, except the 

 basal half of the outer web of the outer feather, 

 which just marks the coloured portion of the 

 tails of several of these birds and allied genera. 

 During winter, the plumage, where black, changes 

 to brown or blackish gray. In the female, the 

 frontal white band is not so distinct, and the 

 upper dark parts are blackish gray. 



CCMIROSTRES. 



We have now reached the second great " tribe" 

 or division of the perching birds, the Conirostres. 

 It is composed of a great variety of forms, and 

 according to Mr Swainson's views, exhibits a 

 series of birds having the highest degree of" 

 organization in all their parts collectively, and 

 they are considered as shewing the typical form 

 among the Incessores, and consequently among 

 the entire Class " Birds." We shall enter only 

 into the description of those genera which arc 

 natives of the British Islands ; for it would be 

 impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to point 

 out the interlacing of the whole, without greatly 

 overstepping our limits. Suffice it to say, that the? 

 bill, as indicated by the title, is somewhat coniaJ 

 in form in all the genera, that they are mostly 

 omnivorous, and all perch or walk with nearly 

 equal facility. In size they are extremely variable. 

 The first family to be noticed is that of thu 



