626 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



the bill is stout and conical, with a sharp apex, but not having 

 the upper mandible toothed. The toes are adapted for perch- 

 ing, and are provided with long and curved claws, that of 

 the hinder toe being usually longer than the rest. They are 

 almost all monogamous, and they build more or less elaborate 

 nests. In this family are the true Finches (Fringilla), the 

 Sparrows, (Pyrgita), the Linnets and Goldfinches (Carduelis\ 

 the Whydah Finches (Vidua), the Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes], 

 the Bullfinches (Pyrrhuld), and many others, but their num- 

 bers are so great that any 

 further notice of them is im- 

 possible here. It may be 

 mentioned, however, that 

 the Finches of the Old 

 World are represented in 

 the tropical parts of America 

 by the Tanagers (Tana- 

 grida), remarkable for their 

 brilliant colours. 



Fig. 346. Head of the common Bullfinch T'hp nnlv rfrrminincr mpvn 



(Pyrrhula vnlgaris), showing the coniros- L nC m Y remaining mein- 



trai beak. bers of the Conirostres which 



require notice are the Cross- 

 bills (Loxiada?), which are sometimes placed with the Finches, 

 and sometimes considered as a separate family. In these 

 birds the structure of the beak is so peculiar that its conirostral 

 character is completely masked, and it has been looked upon 

 as a deformity. Both mandibles, namely, cross one another 

 towards the tip, giving the entire bill a most remarkable ap- 

 pearance. In point of fact, however, instead of being a defor- 

 mity, the bill of the Cross-bills is a beautiful natural adapta- 

 tion, enabling the bird with the greatest facility to tear in 

 pieces the hard fir-cones, on the seeds of which it feeds. 



Sub-order 2. Dentirostres. The birds in this section are 

 characterised by the fact that the upper mandible is provided 

 with a distinct notch in its lower margin near the tip (fig. 345, 

 B). They all feed chiefly upon insects. This sub-order in- 

 cludes the Shrikes (Laniidce), the Fly-catchers (Muscicapidce), 

 the Thrushes (Merulida), the Tits (Paridce\ and the Warblers 

 (Sylviadce). 



The Muscicapidce, including the numerous species of Fly- 

 catchers, are the most insectivorous of the Dentirostres. The 

 gape is wide and bordered with bristles, and the legs are short 

 and weak. They are mostly sedentary, catching their prey 

 from a fixed point. 



