PLANTAIN-EATERS. CROW TRIBE. 



435 



their bills ; which are short and stout, and compressed towards 

 the point. When they take their rest, they sleep with the head 

 downwards, suspended by one foot. 



392. The family MUSOPHAGID^E, or Plantain-eaters^ is inter 

 mediate between the Finches and the Hornbills. It consists 

 entirely of Birds inhabiting tropical climates, and feeding upon 

 soft vegetable substances. Their bills are strong and thick, more 

 or less curved on the top, and having their cutting margins 

 serrated (or jagged) like the teeth of a fine saw. With these 

 instruments they can readily divide the stems of the plants on 

 which they feed ; cutting them off close to the ground. One 

 tribe of this family is peculiar to Africa, whilst another inhabits 

 South America. 



393. The family CORVID^E, or the Crow tribe, on the con- 

 trary, is very widely diffused over the globe ; some members 

 of it being found in almost every country except the very coldest; 

 -its general characters are consequently well known. The bill 

 is strong, and is compressed at the sides ; and it is covered at the 

 base with stiff feathers, which advance forwards so as to cover 

 the nostrils. In several respects these Birds are to be accounted 

 the most perfectly organised of the whole class ; exhibiting a 

 more complete combination of its distinguishing peculiarities, 

 than we meet with in any other group. Thus, their digestive 



organs enable 

 them to derive 

 nutriment from 

 a great variety of 

 edible substances; 

 the bill being ca- 

 pable of laying 

 hold of almost 

 any kind of food; 

 and the stomach 

 being intermedi- 

 ate between the 



membranous, or thinly-muscular kind peculiar to the carni- 

 vorous families, and the gizzards, or strongly-muscular organs 



Fro. 236. HKAD OF CARRION CROW. 



