ZOOLOGY. 



resident in Britain. The Wryneck (Yunx tor- 

 quilla) belongs to this family. In England it is 

 called the Cuckoo's Mate, because its arrival and 

 departure coincide pretty nearly with those of the 

 cuckoo. 



The Psittacidce (Parrots) are a very extensive 

 family, diffused over the torrid zone, and scarcely 

 known beyond it. Their beak, which they use to 

 assist them in climbing, is stout and large, the 

 upper mandible being longer and larger than the 

 lower, and hooked at its extremity. Their tongue 

 is soft and fleshy. Their feet are specially suited 

 for grasping and climbing. They live for the most 

 part upon succulent fruits. Their larynx or organ 

 of voice is very complicated, so that they can 

 imitate the human voice as well as other sounds. 

 They are nearly all adorned with gorgeous colours, 

 and have been divided into several groups. The 

 True Parrots (Psittacince) have square tails and 

 no crests, and are found in the hot parts both 

 of the Old and New World. The Cockatoos 

 (Cacatuina) are also square-tailed, but have 

 crests upon their heads. The white ones inhabit 

 the Indian Archipelago and Australia. The 

 Paroquets (Pezoposince) have a long-pointed tail, 

 and chiefly inhabit Asia and Australia. The 

 Macaws (Araince) are exclusively American, and 



, neither swimmers, waders, climbers, rapacious, 

 : nor gallinaceous. /They have short and slender 

 legs, with three toes before, and one behind. As 

 a rule, the females are smaller, less brilliant in 

 plumage, and less melodious than the males. 

 They are, generally speaking, mixed feeders. 

 They live in pairs, and their power of flight is 

 considerable, and they display great art in the 

 construction of their nests. Many of them are 

 distinguished by their powers of singing. The 

 sub-orders are founded on the form of the beak. 



Sub-order I. Conirostresm. which the beak 

 is strong and conical, being broad at the base and 

 tapering towards the apex. They are omnivorous,, 

 though a few are graminivorous. The order in- 

 cludes several families. 



Family Corvidce : The Common Crows are the 

 most characteristic examples, and have long, 

 strong, and compressed beaks. These animals 

 are constructed for powerful flight, as well as for 

 walking on the ground. They feed indiscrimin- 

 ately on animals or vegetables. They are bold, 

 but waiy, live in common societies, and possess 

 great courage. Under the general term Crow 

 are included the Raven (Corvus corax), which is 

 the largest of European perching-birds ; the 

 Carrion Crow (C. corone\ which is so destructive 

 to eggs and young game ; the Rook (C. frugile- 

 gus], which chiefly feeds upon grubs ; the Hooded 

 Crow (C. comix) y which feeds upon molluscs, &c. 

 upon the sea-shore ; and the Jackdaw (C. mon- 

 edula), which lives in deserted buildings, but is 

 troublesome on account of its propensity to secrete 

 any small article of value that comes in its way. 

 The Magpies {Pica caudata) and Jays (Garrulus) 

 are nearly allied to the Crows. The Chough 

 (Frigilus graculus) is closely allied to the Crows, 

 but differs from them in having the bill notched 

 at the top. The Paradiseida (Birds of Paradise) 

 must be classed along with this family, although 



Macaw (Ara ararauna). 



are superbly coloured. The Lories (Lorince) are 

 oriental species, with dense soft plumage, and 

 most gaudily coloured. 



The Toucans (Ramphastidcs) have bills of enor- 

 mous size, but the mandibles are to a great 

 extent hollowed out and filled with air. They live 

 upon fruits, and are confined to the warm regions 

 of America. They are in general black, with 

 lively colours on the throat and breast 



Insessores. 



ORDER 5. The Insessores, or Passerine Birds 

 (Perching-birds) comprehends an immense num- 

 ber of species, whose characters seem principally 

 negative ; for it embraces those birds which are 



Bird of Paradise (Paradisea apoda) male. 



they differ considerably from the ordinary Cor- 

 vidce. They are confined to New Guinea and the 

 neighbouring islands. They feed upon insects and 

 soft fruits, and are captured for their plumage, the 

 extraordinary development of which is well known. 

 The brilliant plumage is confined to the male. 



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