FAMILY 



Suborder O seines (Song Birds) 



The remaining families of Passeriformes or 

 Perching Birds all belong to this . suborder, 

 collectively called the Song Birds. Having 

 the most complex and effective system of 

 muscles attached to the cartilages of their 

 vocal organs, they are in consequence best 

 equipped as songsters. It must, however, be 

 admitted, that many birds of other groups 

 sing very well, and that many of the Oscines, 

 the crows and the familiar English sparrow 

 for instance, produce only harsh sounds. 

 Nevertheless they cannot blame this on any 

 failure of nature to provide them with the 

 means. 



52. Farruly HIRUNDINID^E 



The Swallows 



The swallows are a widely distributed 

 family, recognizable among all the other 

 perching birds by their long wings and re- 

 markable powers of flight. They keep on 

 the wing much of the time, ranging back and 

 forth over the country at a low or moderate 

 height, catching on the wing the small 

 insects that form their food. Their feet are 

 small, the tail generally more or less notched 

 at the end (sometimes deeply forked), the 

 bill short but wide at the base so that the 

 mouth, when opened, is large, and the 

 plumage often with a metallic gloss on the 

 upper parts. 



They are gregarious and sociable in habits, 



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