460 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



insects, fruit, seeds, vegetable juices, or of a mixed kind " 

 (Owen). 



In accordance with the form of the beak, the Insessores have 

 been divided into four great sections or sub-orders, known as 

 the Conirostres, Dentirostres, Tenuirostres, and Fissirostres. 



Sub-order i. Conirostres. In this section of the Insessores 

 the beak is strong and on the whole conical, broad at the base 

 and tapering with considerable rapidity to the apex (fig. 178, 

 C). The upper mandible is not markedly toothed at its lower 

 margin. Good examples of the Conirostral type of beak are 

 to be found in the common Sparrow, Hawfinch, or Bullfinch. 

 The greater number of the Conirostres are omnivorous ; the re- 

 mainder are granivorous, or feed on seeds and grains. The 

 sub-order includes the families of the Horn-bills (Buceridcz\ 

 the Starlings (Sturnida), the Crows (Corvida), the Cross-bills 

 (Loxiadce), and the Finches and Larks (Fringillidcz). 



In the Horn-bills the conirostral shape of the beak is masked, 

 partly by its being of very great size, and partly by the fact 

 that above the upper mandible is placed a hollow appendage 

 like a kind of helmet. Both the beak and the appendage 

 above it are rendered light by the presence of numerous air- 

 cells. The Horn-bills are exclusively confined to the warm 

 countries of the eastern hemisphere, and are the largest of all 

 the Insessorial birds, sometimes attaining the size of a goose. 

 They live on fruits, and make their nests in the holes of trees. 



The family of the Corvidcz, or Crows, is an extremely exten- 

 sive one, and includes a large number of very dissimilar look- 

 ing birds, all characterised by their long, strong, and com- 

 pressed beaks, the tip of the upper mandible being slightly 

 hooked and more or less notched. In this family are the 

 Jays (Garrulina)\ the true Crows or Corvince. (comprising the 

 Rooks, Carrion-crows, Ravens, Jackdaws, Magpie, Chough, 

 &c.), and the Birds of Paradise (Paradiseidce). These last 

 differ considerably from the ordinary Corvidcz, but can hardly 

 be separated as a distinct family. They are amongst the most 

 beautiful of all birds, and are entirely confined to New Guinea 

 and the neighbouring islands. They feed upon insects and 

 fruit, and are largely destroyed for the sake of their feathers. 

 The natives who capture them usually cut off their legs ; hence 

 the notion formerly prevailed that the Birds of Paradise were 

 destitute of these limbs. It is only the males which possess 

 the brilliant plumage, the females being soberly dressed ; and 

 in accordance with this fact, it is stated that the Birds of Para- 

 dise are polygamous, being in this respect an exception to the 

 entire order of the Insessores. 



