276 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



during a certain period on parental care. The brain arrives 

 in this order at its greatest proportionate size ; the organ of 

 voice here attains its utmost complexity ; and all the charac- 

 teristics of the bird, as power of flight, melody of voice, and 

 beauty of plumage, are enjoyed in the highest perfection by 

 one or other of the groups of this extensive and varied order." 

 The structure, then, of the feet gives the definition of the 

 order, but the minor subdivisions are founded on the nature 

 of the beak ; this organ varying in form according to the na- 

 ture of the food, which may be " small or young birds, carrion, 

 insects, fruit, seeds, vegetable juices, or of a mixed kind." In 

 accordance with this character, the Insessores have been di- 

 vided into four great sections, as follows : 



1. Conirostres in which the bill is strong and on the 

 whole conical, broad at the base and tapering with consider- 

 able rapidity to the point (Fig. 136, C). The upper mandible 

 is not markedly toothed at its lower margin. Good exam- 

 ples of the Conirostral beak are to be found in the common 

 Sparrow, Bullfinch, Crow, or Hawfinch (C). The greater part 

 of the Conirostres are omnivorous, eating any thing which 

 may come in their way ; but some are granivorous, subsisting 

 upon grains and seeds. To this section belong the Hornbills 

 (JSuceridce), the Starlings (Sturnidce\ the Crows, Jays, and 

 Magpies (Corvidce), the Cross-bills (Loxiadce), and the nu- 

 merous Finches, Buntings, Grosbeaks, Tanagers, and Larks 

 (Fringillidoe) . 



2. Dentirostres. The birds of this section are characterized 

 by the fact that the upper mandible of the beak is notched or 

 toothed on its lower margin near the tip (Fig. 136, D). They 

 all feed upon animal food, especially upon insects. In this 

 section are the Shrikes (Laniidce), the Fly-catchers (Muscica- 

 pidce), the Thrushes (Memlidce), the Tits (Paridc^), and the 

 Warblers (Sylviadce). 



3. Tenuirostres. In this section the beak is long and 

 slender, gradually tapering to a point (Fig. 136, E). The toes 

 are generally very long and slender, especially the hinder toe. 

 Many live to a great extent upon vegetable juices, and among 

 these are some of the most fragile and brightly-colored of all 

 the birds. A great many, however, live upon insects, either 

 partially or entirely, and some of these approach nearly to the 

 Dentirostres in many of their characters. Among the more 

 important groups included in this section are the Creepers and 

 Wrens ( Certhidce), the Honey-eaters (Meliphagidce), the Hum- 

 ming-birds (Trochilidce), and the Hoopoes (Upupinm). 



