Aves. 



239 



The Perching Birds. This is the largest order of birds. 

 Its members have the toes fitted for perching, with three 

 toes turned forward and 'one backward, all on the same 

 level; most of them are "tree" birds, and are small or 

 medium-sized. There are usually twelve tail feathers and 

 nine or ten primaries. 



The flycatchers include 'the kingbird and pewee. The 

 crows and jays are known by their harsh voices, omnivo- 

 rous appetites, and thievish habits. They do harm by 

 eating the eggs and young of many birds. The black- 

 birds and* orioles form a well-known family, including 

 the parasitic cowbird, the bobolink, and meadow lark. 

 The sparrows, or finches, are the largest family of perchers. 

 They have stout, cone-shaped beaks, with the " corners of 

 the mouth drawn down-." 

 Most of the sparrows are of 

 rather dull colors, streaked 

 grays, drabs, and browns pre- 

 vailing, as in the tree sparrow, 

 chipping sparrow, and snow- 

 bird. Still, many of these 

 have patches of yellow, white, 

 or chestnut feathers. Some 

 are conspicuously colored, as 

 the purple finch, wild canary, 

 or thistle bird, the indigo bird, 

 and the cardinal and rose- 

 breasted grosbeaks. 



The English sparrow was introduced into the United 

 States about 1850, with the hope that it might check the 

 ravages of the "cankerworm" and other tree-infesting 

 caterpillars. The importation was a failure. It is doubt- 

 ful if these sparrows do much good in the way of eating 



FIG. 144. KINGBIRD. 



From Packard's Zoology. 



