YOKE-FOOTED BIRDS. 51 



most part they are gregarious, and many of them preda- 

 tory, and generally cunning and intelligent. To give them 

 attitude and expression corresponding with their habits, is the 

 business of the stuffer. The Paradisea, or birds of Paradise, 

 are of this Order, for the manner of mounting which, we refer 

 to the plan of setting up birds feather by feather. 



ORDER III. -INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



A rich field for the display of taste is to be found in setting 

 up the Insectivorous birds. Here we have every variety of 

 action, the species for the most part being lively and active in 

 their habits, contention in seizing their prey, hopping from 

 twig to twig, watching the movements of insects, and suspend- 

 ed from the points of the most slender twigs in the act of 

 seizing them. Many of these are also songsters of the grove, 

 who delight us with melody, so that putting them in the act of 

 singing has always a pleasing effect. 



ORDER IV GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The same variety will be found in this as in the above Order. 

 Many of them have, however, peculiar interest from the sin- 

 gular construction of their nests ; and if stuffed in connection 

 with these they have always an excellent effect. 



ORDER V. ZYGODACTYLOUS OR YOKE- 

 FOOTED BIRDS. 



Here again the prevailing dispositions and habits of the 

 birds are widely different from any of the former Orders. They 

 have two toes before and two behind, but the exterior hind toe 

 is sometimes reversible ; that is, it can be turned considerably 

 to the front, or be spread horizontally along a branch. 



Their food consists chiefly of caterpillars, worms, and insects, 

 but some species live on soft fruits. The construction of their 

 toes gives them considerable powers in assuming attitudes on 

 E2 



