184 BILLS OP THE CONIROSTRES. 



may not be found in one species or other of the om- 

 nivorous race. Still, however, there is a definite 

 character in the bills of the whole, and that of the 

 raven is not completely lost even in the hornbill or 

 the bird of Paradise. 



The whole race are also what is usually termed 

 " foul feeders." Their voices are harsh, but, generally 

 speaking, they are capable of being taught to arti- 

 culate. They are also familiar birds, and not difficult 

 to be tamed, partly, perhaps, from their indolent 

 habits, and partly from their voracity. Generally 

 speaking, they are prying and hopping creatures; 

 and when they seize living prey, they jump at and 

 stab, or snap it with the bill. Altogether, they are 

 a serviceable race, and their labours tend much to 

 preserve vegetation both in field and in forest in 

 places where they are numerous. 



BILLS OP THE CONIROSTRES. 



These form the first natural division which we 

 can trace from the omnivorous bill of the raven, 

 upon that part of its compound character which 

 relates to the action of the mandibles against each 

 other by pressure in the simple division of hard 

 substances. Bills of this description are without 

 any notch or tooth ; and they are always of firm 

 texture, on which account the small birds that have 

 them are often styled hard-billed birds, in contradis- 

 tinction from the insect feeders, which have the bill 

 with a tooth or notch, but of comparatively slender 

 structure. 



Birds having bills of this description vary much in 

 their structure and habits ; but generally speaking, 

 they may be considered as more peculiarly birds of 

 temperate and even cold climates. This is what might 



