FAMILY D ENTIROSTRATA. TOOTH-BILLED. 



65 



tarily, and always inhabit steep rocks and the stony parts of the highest 

 mountains, among the clefts of which they build. They feed almost 

 entirely on insects. 



There are two species, natives of Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, France, 

 Spain, and Turkey. 



RUPICOLA Bock-cock. There are three species, two of which are 

 natives of America, but the third is found in Asia. They are grani- 

 vorous. 



The Orange Bock-cock (R. Aurantiaca) is rather larger than a Wood 

 Pigeon : general colour of the plumage orange, which becomes more bril- 

 liant as the bird increases in age. The female is distinguished from the 

 male by her plumage being brown. The young male does not assume his 

 bright plumage at first, but has the brown colour of the female; and at 

 each month more orange is thrown out till it assumes at last the colours 

 described as those of the adult. It is a native of Guiana, and lives in the 

 deep clefts of rocks and in caverns. 



The Peruvian and Green Bock Cocks are the other species. 



EURYLAIMUS. The Javanese Eunjlaimus (Plate 4) frequents the most 

 remote and inaccessible wastes, covered with forests and abounding with 

 rivers and marshes. It builds its nest pendent from the branch of a tree 

 overhanging the water. Its general colour is purple ; forehead black ; 

 back of neck and wings dark brown ; bill variegated and striped ; tail- 

 coverts tipped with yellow ; tarsi dusky-yellow. Native of Java, Sumatra, 

 and the Indian Archipelago. 



EDOLIUS. Found in the countries bordering the Indian seas, also in 

 Africa. They are about the size of our Thrush ; colour black or dark- 

 brown. The Hottentots call them Duywels, or Devil's Bird, from their cry 

 pia-griach-griach. 



MALUKUS Merion. These birds are divided into two geographical 

 sections the African, and those of the Indian Archipelago and New Hol- 

 land. They are found in marshy districts covered with high grass and 

 reeds ; they are very swift, and run more than fly. One species, the Soft- 

 tailed Merion (M. Malachurus), is called by the colonists of Port Jackson 

 the Emeu Bird. 



MELIPHAGA Honey-eater. The birds of thisgenus are found only in 

 the South Sea Islands and the distant parts of India. Species about 

 eighteen. 



MENURA. The species (M. Superba), the Superb Menura, is about the 

 size of a hen pheasant ; its general colour is brown ; prefers retired 

 districts ; and is remarkable for the lyre-like form of its tail. A native of 

 New Holland. Is called by the colonists the Wood Pheasant. 



MOTACILLA Wagtail. They live on the banks of rivers or in watery 

 meadows among the cattle, running round them, for the purpose of catching 

 the flies which settle about their legs, and perhaps also the larvae disturbed 

 by their steps, for which purpose they not unfrequently follow the plough ; 

 they are extremely active, and continually elevating and depressing their 

 tails ; whence has arisen their common appellation. They appear to be 

 connected with Wading-birds by the length of their legs, and by their 

 long scapulars, which when the wings are folded cover their tips. 



The Grey Wagtail (M. Boarula) remains in England through the winter, 

 and is found throughout Europe, especially in the north. 



MUSCIPETA Flyseeker. The birds forming this genus are generally of 

 slender make, and therefore only capable of catching insects. Some are 

 furnished with crests on the head, or long feathers in the tail, and some 

 have a remarkable membranous circlet about the eyes. They are classed 

 geographically : the Asiatic eight species ; the African two ; the American 

 twenty-two ; and the Oceanic ten or eleven. 



MYOTHERA Palikour. The latter is the common title by which these 

 birds go in Guiana ; do not fly much on account of the shortness of their 

 wings, but they run or hop along the trees with great quickness. They 

 are found in South America and in Java, in the depths of retired woods in 

 the neighbourhood of large ant-hills, on whose tenants they principally feed. 

 General colour of the upper parts brown, grey or whitish beneath. 



OCYPTERUS Swallow-shrike. Six species, resembling the Shrikes in 



courage and the Swallows in their length of wing and rapidity of flight. 

 Plumage varied black and white. Inhabitants of the East Indian isles and 

 Australia. They feed on insects. 



ORIOLUS Oriole. They differ from the Thrushes in the greater strength 

 of their beak and shortness of their tarsi ; plumage black and yellow. One 

 species, the Witwall (O. Catbula), is European, rare in England ; and 

 seven secies are found in New Holland and the East Indian isles. 



PAKDALOTUS. This genus is closely allied to the Piproe, or Manakins, 

 from which it is distinguished by a dilated instead of a trigonal base. 

 There are seven species, some of which are inhabitants of South America, 

 some of New Holland, and some of Java. 



PASTOR Locust-eater. The name of this genus refers to their habit of 

 flocking together in large parties. Vieillot named the genus Acridotheres, 

 from the Grasshoppers on which they principally feed. All of them belong 

 to the old world, collect together, and live in large flights, like Starlings, 

 which they closely resemble in habits ; they are very fond of being among 

 cattle, on the backs of which they alight for the purpose of picking out the 

 ticks and other vermin ; are often seen on dunghills, and also feed upon 

 large insects, especially locusts. 



The number of species is eight, only one of which has occasionally 

 visited England. 



PHIBALURA. This genus, of which there is but one species, is connected 

 with the Piprse, by the form of its legs and beak and the distribution of 

 its plumage. From the Brazils. 



PHYLLORNIS Leaf-Bird. There are four species, common in Java, 

 Sumatra, and Borneo. Their size varies from five to seven inches ; general 

 colour green, tinged with brilliant yellow or marigold colour. Habits not 

 well known. 



PIPRA Manakin. All natives of South America. They live on the 

 borders of woods, and feed on insects. 



PITTA. All tropical birds, exactly agreeing in their form and habits, 

 whether found in the new or old world. They are insect-eaters. 



PLATYRHYNCHOS Broad-beaks. Natives of Brazil : they have a pleasing 

 note, and feed on winged insects. 



PROCNIAS. Similar to Swallows ; natives of tropical climes. 



PTILONORHYNCHUS. Only two species ; inhabitants of the South Sea 

 Islands. 



PYRRHOCORAX. A genus similar in size to Crows; found in Italy, 

 Switzerland, and Egypt. 



SAXICOLA Wheatear. The Saxicolce, by the breadth of the base of 

 their beak, are connected with the true Flycatchers, Muscicapoe, and by 

 their habits an almost direct passage to that section of the Thrushes, Turdi, 

 which live among the rocks. They are all found in the old world, are 

 shy, living only in pairs upon open moors, or in rocky districts, where, on 

 the least alarm, they hide either behind stones or in holes. The great 

 length of their legs renders them good runners, and they feed upon insects 

 and worms, which they catch upon the ground with great activity. In 

 Great Britain three species are found, but two of these are migratory ; and, 

 though generally they are found in the southern parts of Europe, and in 

 that part of Africa which borders or is near to the Mediterranean, yet some 

 species are found constantly remaining in high northern latitudes. 



SPARACTES Butcher. One species only known ; size of a Blackbird. 



SYLVIA \Yarbkr. The Warblers form a most extensive genus: in 

 Latham's arrangement two hundred and ninety-eight species were included. 

 They are spread over most parts of the world, and most of those found in 

 England are migratory, making their appearance in spring and leaving in 

 autumn. Several of them, especially those living in the woods, are the finest 

 songsters ; but their song does not last throughout the whole of their visit, 

 and is almost entirely at an end or materially altered after breeding-time 

 has ceased. The greater number are constant inhabitants of warm climates, 

 and breed twice a year, which some few species also do in this country. 

 The males generally have their colours brighter than the females, but the 

 colours themselves are the same; and in those which live among marshes 

 there is not any difference between the sexes even in that respect. They 



