PASSERES. 29 



mandible of the Falcon, remains in a notch near 

 the tip ; a mark which is obliterated by impercep- 

 tible gradations. The food of the Passerine birds 

 embraces a wide variety of substances, but yet 

 the vast majority feed either upon insects or upon 

 vegetable seeds ; and in almost every instance 

 these are procured by the beak alone, without the 

 aid of the feet. 



To this Order, with scarcely a single exception, 

 belong the birds whose voices are uttered in notes 

 of melody. Every one is acquainted with the 

 song of a bird; and there are, probably, few 

 whose hearts are not in some degree open to the 

 sweet and soothing influence of its associations. 

 To walk out on a sunny morning in early spring, 

 and listen to the lark as he soars up invisibly into 

 the bright sky, or to the broken whistle, so rich 

 and mellow, of the blackbird, among the yet bare 

 and leafless twigs of the grove ; or, by and bye, 

 when the forest has put on its verdure, to walk 

 through its leafy bowers, when thousands of 

 throats are pouring forth their sweet warblings 

 around, this is indeed delightful. 



" Tis pleasant, 'tis pleasant in greenwood-shade, 

 When the merle and the mavis are singing." 



The song of birds seems to be connected with 

 the passion of love. In a wild state birds do not 

 in general sing, except during the pairing season, 

 when the trilling forth of their wild melodies 

 appears to be designed to please and cheer their 

 mates. Some naturalists think that the particular 

 notes which constitute the distinctive melody, in 

 any given species, are the result of imitation 

 alone, being handed down by what we may call 

 tradition ; and that if a young bird were brought 



