CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



The natives who captured them cut off their legs, 

 so that, for a long time, it was supposed they were 

 destitute of these appendages. 



The family of the Starlings (Sturnida} closely 

 resemble the crows, though they are weaker birds. 

 The only species resident in Europe is the Com- 

 mon Starling {Stumus vulgaris). It includes a 

 number of curious birds, among them the Icterince, 

 or Hang-nests of South America, which build 

 long purse-like nests, suspended from the slender 

 branches of lofty trees. It also includes the 

 singular Bower-birds of Australia, which con- 

 struct an elaborate bower, which serves as a 

 sort of playing-ground, and where the birds make 

 love to each other. 



The Fringillida (Finches) are the smallest of 

 this group of perching-birds, and are known by 

 the shortness and strength of their conical bills. 

 The Chaffinches (Fringilla Calebs), Linnets 

 (Linota cannabina), Goldfinches (C. elegans), Bull- 

 finches (Pyrrhula vulgaris), Buntings (Emberiza), 

 Sparrows (Passer dotnesticus), and Larks (Alau- 

 stina), all belong to this family. The Canary 

 (Carduelis canaria) was originally imported from 

 the Canary Islands. The Weaver-birds (Plocetna) 

 of tropical climates construct remarkable nests of 

 blades of grass interwoven together. 



The Bucerida (Hornbills) are confined to the 

 Old World. They have a huge excrescence on 

 the upper mandible, which is rendered light by 

 the presence of spaces filled with air. 



The Lonadce (Crossbills) are distinguished by 

 a strong curvature of the mandibles, causing their 

 tips to pass each other a peculiarity which gives 

 them a great advantage in extracting their favourite 

 food, the seeds of the pine-cones. 



Sub-order 2. Dentirostres have a notch . in 

 the lower margin of the upper mandible near the 

 tip. Although their food consists principally of 

 insects, some of them are carnivorous. 



The Shrikes (Laniida lanius, a butcher) are 

 highly predaceous, and they kill their prey, which 

 consists of small birds, mice, &c. by repeated 

 blows of the bill on the head. They are commonly 

 called Butcher-birds. 



The Fly-catchers, or Muscicapidtz (musca, a fly, 

 and capio, I take), have a depressed beak, armed 

 with bristles at the base. They are migratory, 

 as they must be to obtain their prey. Two species 

 are found in Britain, the Spotted Fly-catcher (M. 

 griseola), and the Pied Fly-catcher (M. luctuosd). 



Of the Thrushes (Merulidce), the Blackbirds 

 (Turdus merula) and the Fieldfares (T. pilaris) 

 are well-known examples. Of the Thrushes, the 

 "best known are the Song-thrush or Mavis (71 

 musicu*), the Ring- thrush (71 torquatus\ and 

 the Redwing (T. iliacus), all of which are found 

 in Britain. The Mocking-birds (Mimus poly- 

 glottus), which are restricted to America, are 

 remarkable for the singular gift of imitating the 

 cries of many other birds. The Orioles are 

 migratory birds, which frequent Southern Europe, 

 where they build their curious hanging nests. 

 The Dipper, or Water Ousel (Cnidus aquaticus), 

 also belongs to this group. 



The Warblers (Sylviadce) are the most musical 

 of European birds, including the Wagtails (Mota- 

 cilld), Titmice {Parnice), Hedge-sparrows (Accen- 

 tor), Redbreasts (Erythacus), &c. The Nightin- 

 gale (Philotnela luscinid) is a migratory bird, which 

 visits England in April, and leaves it in August 



174 



It builds on trees, and does not sing till the young 



Nightingale (Philomela luscinid). 



ones are hatched. The notes which it then gives 

 forth have in all ages been a theme of admiration. 



Sub-order 3. Tenuirostres (Slender-billed birds) 

 are known by possessing a long slender beak, 

 tapering to a point. Their toes are long and 

 slender. Most of them live on insects, though 

 others subsist on the juices of flowers. 



The Meliphagidce (Honey-suckers) are chiefly 

 confined to Australia. Their tongue is terminated 

 by a bunch of fine filaments, and the hind-toe is 

 so strong that it serves as a support to the bird 

 while feeding. 



The Trochilidce (Humming-birds), so celebrated 

 for the metallic lustre of their plumage, are pre- 

 eminently South American. They have within 

 their long slender beak a bifid tongue, suited for 

 catching insects within the corollas of flowers, or 

 of sucking the juices of the flowers themselves. 

 When hovering over flowers, these birds balance 

 themselves in the air by a rapid motion of the 

 wings, and it is by this movement that the hum- 

 ming sound is produced from which they take 

 their name. Some of them do not weigh more 

 than twenty grains when alive. More than 170 

 species are known. 



The family of the Certhidce (Creepers) includes 

 the Nuthatch (Sitta Europced), the Brown Creeper 

 (Certhia familiar), and the familiar little Wrens 

 (Troglodytes). It also includes the singular Lyre- 

 bird of Australia (Menura superbd), so called from 

 the peculiar arrangement of its tail-feathers. 



The Sun-birds (Promeropidce) represent the 

 humming-birds in the Eastern continent. They 

 are small birds, and the males have the most 

 brilliant colours, rivalling those of the humming- 

 birds, during the breeding season ; but the garb 

 of the female, and of the male at other parts of 

 the year, is much more dull. 



The Hoopoes (Upupidce) are restricted to the 

 Old World. The Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 

 annually visits Europe in company with the Bee- 

 eaters. 



Sub-order 4. Fissirostres (Cleft-beaks) have the 

 beak deeply cleft, which gives a wide gape, and 

 fits these birds for catching insects on the wing. 

 The gape is usually furnished with bristles, which 

 greatly facilitates the capture of their prey. 



The family Hirundinidcs (Swallows) are well- 

 known summer visitors of Britain. Their move- 

 ments in flying are vivid and irregular. The feet 





