INSESSORES. 347 



tera, (Gr. white winged,) which is somewhat less than a Gold 

 finch, (according to DeKay, six and one-half inches long.) It 

 ranges from 40o to 68 N. Lat., and is common on the shores of 

 Lake Ontario. (N. B. These Cross-billed birds are included 

 by Audubon in the family of Finches. In the N. Y. State Nat. 

 Hist, they have a like arrangement.) 



FIFTH FAMILY. The HORN BILLS. 

 Bucerotidce, (Gr. ^ovxa^w?, boukeros, ox-horned.) 



The characteristics of the birds of this family which most ar- 

 rest the attention, are the enormous extent, and singular protu 

 berances of the beak, In many of the species this organ is con 

 siderably larger than the head ; there is a large, uncouth look 

 ing projection, various in form, on its summit. This projection 

 sometimes resembles a horn, or the crest of a helmet which often 

 encroaches upon the skull towards the crown of the head. The 

 mandibles in adult birds are both notched on the edges. The 

 protuberance on the upper mandible is small when the bird is 

 young, and does not attain its great size until the bird is fully 

 grown. (Plate IX. fig. 13.) By a beautiful provision of the 

 Creator, for birds supporting so large an organ, the horny case 

 of the beak is very thin, thus diminishing the weight ; and, at 

 the same time, the bony core is hollowed into numerous cells of 

 various sizes and forms, with very thin walls between them, so 

 that the needed firmness is preserved in union with remarkable 

 lightness. The bones of the body are also permeated with air 

 more than those of any other bird. The tongue in the Horn- 

 billed birds is fleshy, and like that of the Birds of Prey, short 

 and deep in the throat; the tail is long, broad, and more or less 

 rounded at the extremity, consisting of only ten feathers ; the 

 feet are short, strong and formed for walking or perching ; the 

 claws short and blunt. 



The Bucerotidoe are large sized birds ; they are gregarious and 

 noisy, and live both on animal and vegetable food ; few are 

 smaller than a Crow, and some are much larger than a Raven. 

 The plumage is usually of a sombre cast, but frequently relieved 

 with masses of white; the beak and naked skin often exhibit 

 bright colorings during life. The abode of these birds is lim 

 ited to Africa, India, and the large islands adjacent. 



The Horn-bills seem to be most nearly related to the Crows 

 on the one hand, and to the Toucans on the other, thus connect 

 ing the Perchers and the Climbers. That they form a link be 

 tween these two orders was proved from anatomical examina- 



