292 A COURSE ON ZOOLOGY. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

 Birds (continued) Passeres. 



THE order passeres includes a number of families, and 

 the species are exceedingly numerous, usually compara- 

 tively small in size, but having few common character- 

 istics. They all have the toes adapted for perching. 



The fly-catchers, of which the kingbird or bee martin 

 is a type, have short, strong bills, and destroy millions 

 of insects. They have no song, the cry being a sort of 

 chirp. 



The mocking-bird of America and the nightingale of 



FIG. 242. 



MOCKING-BIRD (Mimus polyglottus) . 



Europe are very plain in plumage, but are remarkable 

 songsters, and make the groves melodious at night. 

 These and the bluebird belong to the thrush family, as 

 does the robin redbreast. Both these birds are very 



