Passeres 69 



America, though they go further south in Africa and 

 reach the Cape of Good Hope. When about to leave 

 for their winter-quarters, the members of this family 

 collect into flocks, especially in the case of the Swallows, 

 which just before crossing the sea may be seen massed 

 on roofs, telegraph-wires, and so forth, or even crowded 

 together in huge quantities on the roads. The twitter- 

 ing notes and the flight are well known to everyone ; 

 the food consists of insects taken in the air or from 

 the surface of the water. The birds always seem too 

 busy to be shy, and are too quick and irregular in 

 their movements ever to be in much danger from 

 shooters ; occasionally, however, they take it into their 

 heads to attack a man, swooping down with much 

 noise and brushing him with their wings, for no apparent 

 object. Swallows commonly perch on trees, Martins 

 rarely. All may have two or even three broods, es- 

 pecially when their first nests are usurped by Sparrows. 



Family PRINGILLID^J, or Pinches and Buntings 



The members of this very large Family are for the 

 most part stout-looking birds with strong bills, which 

 feed mainly upon seeds and fruits, though the diet of 

 the young consists also of insects and their larvae. 

 They vary considerably in size and coloration, as may 

 be seen from the Sparrow and Linnet; the Hawfinch 

 and Crossbill ; the Goldfinch, Bullfinch, and Chaffinch ; 

 the Common, Yellow, and Snow Buntings. The sub- 

 family Fringillince contains the true Finches, where the 

 mandibles fit closely together, the subfamily Emberi- 

 zince the Buntings, where the bill, when shut, shews 

 a distinct gap. This seems a small point, but the 

 subdivision is in agreement with the appearance and 

 habits of the birds. 



