CLASS AYES: ORDER PASSERES. 



11? 



and claim protection as among the most useful of are 

 songsters. 



Fringillidae. The Finches* are distinguished by a short, 

 conical bill, usually notched. The Song-sparrows are our 

 earliest and latest musicians. Those nesting in the far 

 north pass the latitude of New England late in November, 

 and return in early March ; always in full song, with notes 

 " louder, clearer, and more vibratory than those that come to 

 us and remain to breed." f It nests both on the ground and 

 in trees, only the older birds selecting the latter, as though 

 taught by experience the greater security. 



Fig. 195. 



Fig. 196. 



Metosjhza melodia, Song Sparrow. J. 



Curcirostra lettcoptZra. 

 Curoirostra americana. 

 Cross Bill. i. 



The Cross Bill, when matured, has its mandibles lapping, 

 though the young do not possess this peculiarity. While 

 this anomalous form does not unfit the bird for eating 



* The necessity of examining not only a great number of specimens of the same 

 bird, hut also those from different localities, is especially apparent in this family. 

 Each region of North America seems to possess a different variety. So completely, 

 however, do the forms of a series of hundreds of specimens from different places 

 insensibly grade into one another, that eight species have been united in one by 

 tecent authors 



t Individuals have been known to sing "nine entirely different sets of notes," 

 usually uttering them one after another in the same order." 



