PASSERINE. 131 



under the scales of the pine-cones. The European species is very common 

 wherever there are evergreen trees ; it is, 



Loxia curvirostra, Lin. (The Crossbill.) The plumage of the young male 

 is of a vivid red, with brown wings ; that of the adult, and of the female, is 

 greenish above, yellowish beneath. 



We cannot remove from the Bullfinches and the Crossbills the 



CORYTHUS, Cuvier. 



The point of whose completely arched beak curves over the lower mandible. 

 The most known species is 



Loxia enucleator, Lin. The Pine Grosbeak inhabits the north of both con- 

 tinents, and lives in the same way as the Crossbill. It is red, or reddish, the 

 feathers of the tail and wings black edged with white. 



COLIUS, Gmelin.* 



The Colics also approximate considerably to the preceding birds. Their 

 beak is short, thick, conical, and somewhat compressed, its two mandibles 

 being arcuated, but without extending beyond each other, the quills of their 

 tail are cuneiform, and very long ; their thumb is capable of being directed 

 forwards like the other toes ; their fine and silky features are generally 

 cinereous. They inhabit Africa and India, climb something in the manner 

 of Parrots, live in flocks, build many of their nests on the same bush, and 

 sleep suspended to its branches in crowds, with the head downwards. 

 They feed on fruit. 



Here also come the 



BUPHAGA, Brisson. 



The Beef-Eaters form a small genus in which the beak is of a moderate 

 length, cylindrical at the beginning, and both mandibles inflated near the 

 end, which terminates in a blunt point. They use it to compress the skin 

 of cattle, in order to force out the larvae of the (Estrus lodged in them, on 

 which they feed. 



One species only is known, and that is from Africa ; brownish, with a 

 moderate sized cuneiform tail; as large as a thrush. It is the Buphaga 

 Africana. 



CASSICUS, Cuvier. 



A large and exactly conical beak, thick at base, and very sharp'at the point ; 

 small round nostrils, pierced on the sides ; the com- 

 missure of the mandibles forms a broken line, or is 

 angular like that of the starlings. They are American 

 birds, whose manners are similar to those of the last- 

 mentioned ones, living like them in flocks, frequently constructing their nests 

 close together, and sometimes with much art. They feed on grain and insects, 



* KoAoiox, the Greek name of a small species of Crow. 

 K 2 



