427 



TRIBE I. CONIROSTRES/ 



386. The Birds of this division are for the most part dis- 

 tinguished from the rest, not only by the form of the bill, but 

 also by that of the feet ; which are so constructed, that they 

 can walk upon the ground with nearly the same facility as they 

 perch upon branches. This faculty is of great assistance to 

 them in the search for food ; which they chiefly obtain from the 

 surface of the earth, rather than among trees, or whilst upon the 

 wing. The families included in this division are the FRINGIL- 

 LIDJE, or Finches ; the COLID^E, or Colics ; the MUSOPHAGID^E, or 

 Plantain-eaters; the CORVIDJE, or Crows; the STURNID.E, or 

 Starlings ; the PARADISEIDVE, or Birds of Paradise ; and the 

 BCCERIDJE, or Hornbills. Most of the Birds belonging to it are 

 more or less domesticable ; showing a disposition to associate 

 with Man ; and being capable of receiving a certain amount of 

 education from him. 



387. The FRINGILLID^E, or Finches, constitute a very large 

 family, that includes several minor groups, such as Larks, Bun- 

 tings, Linnets, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Weaver-Birds, &c. ; each 

 of these groups consisting of several genera, more or less closely 

 related to one another. None of them are of large size ; and 

 they bear a very strong relationship in general appearance and 

 habits. They tenant fields, groves, hedge-rows and woodlands ; 

 and they feed chiefly upon various kinds of grain and seeds, 

 occasionally upon insects. Many of them are remarkable for 

 their powers of song ; and hence they are termed hard-billed 

 warblers, in contradistinction to the SYLVIAD.E ( 399), which are 

 spoken of as soft-billed. They are for the most part hardy 

 Birds ; and as they can usually obtain a sufficient supply of 

 food in our country through the whole winter, few or none of 

 the British Fringillidae are migratory ; although there are 

 several species that are driven hither for the winter from more 

 northern climates. This is the case with the Siskin or Aberde- 

 vine ; and with the Redpoll. Most of them associate in flocks 



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