G8 



CLASS AVE S. 



ORDER PASSERINA. 



differ remarkably from them in having all four toes placed in front, instead 

 of three before and one behind. In consequence of this circumstance, 

 Illiger instituted for them the new genus Cypsdus, to which Cuvier prefers 

 the term Apus, including the same species. 



The species Cypsdus Murarius, or the Black Swift (Plate 5), is seen 

 constantly on the wing except during the seasons of sleep and incubation. 

 These birds pursue insects in flocks, sometimes mounting to a great height, 

 and uttering discordant screams. They rest by clinging with their strong 

 hooked claws to the surface of an old wall or rock, and they nestle in holes 

 in steeples, or other lofty buildings, or in rocks. They arrive in this 

 country in May, and depart about the end of August. 



CAPRIITULGUS Moth-hunter, or Goatsucker. These birds derive their 

 name from an old notion, that they suck the teats of Cows and Goats, 

 than which nothing can be more ridiculous, though it is believed by Buffon. 

 They resemble the nocturnal birds of prey in the dark colour of their 

 plumage ; they live upon insects, which they catch with great dexterity, 

 being furnished with a very glutinous saliva. They do not build nests, 

 but lay their eggs, two in number, on the ground ; are solitary birds, being 

 rarely seen together, and live in retired situations. They do not make 

 their appearance till twilight, and from their peculiar note may be easily 

 discovered. 



The Night Jar, or European Goatsucker (C. Europaus), is a beautiful 

 bird, and the only one of the species native of Europe. It is about the 

 size of a Cuckoo, and somewhat resembling it in plumage; its general 

 colour is greyish-brown, spotted, and dashed with brownish-black. It 

 visits us in the spring, and generally leaves about November. In York- 

 shire it is known by the name of Churn Owl, in Shropshire by that of 

 fern Owl; and Charlton calls it the Dorrhaick, from its living very much 

 on that insect. It is insectivorous ; is fond of perching lengthways on 

 trees, and lays two oblong oval eggs. 



The Leona Goatsucker (C. Macrodipterus) is rather larger but very 

 similar to the C. Europceus ; it has the tail rounded ; but it is very remark- 

 able for a single feather twice the length of the body, which springs out of 

 the middle of each wing-covert, and is not barbed but just at its extremity ; 

 on the inside the web is rather more than an inch in breadth, but on the 

 outside not more than a quarter of an inch ; its colour is the same as that 

 of the body, and crossed with five dusky bars ; legs small. Found in 

 Sierra Leone. 



There are seventeen other species; some found in America, some in 

 Africa, and some in New Holland. 



PODARGUS. Two species found in Java and New Holland. From the 

 strength of their beak and nocturnal habits, they connect the Goatsuckers 

 with the Owls. 



Family CONE-BEAKED ; Conirostrata. 



The beak of these Birds is strong, thick, and conical ; it is adapted for 

 the kind of food upon which most of them exclusively subsist, viz., seeds 

 and grain. 



Genera. 



Alaucla - 



Paras 



Emberiza 



Fringilla - 



Loiia 



Corythus 



Paradises 



Species. 



Arvensis - - 



Caudatus - - 



Hortulana - - 



Calebs - - - 

 Curvirostra 



Knucleator - 



Apoda - - - 



Common Name. 



- - Sky-lark. 



- - Long-tailed Titmouse. 



- - Ortolan. 



- - Chaffinch. 



- - Crossbill. 



- - Pine Grosbeak. 



- - Emerald Paradise Bird. 



Other Genera of this Family: Buphaga, Cassicus, Colius, Coracias, 

 Corvus, Glaucopis, Gracula, Myophona, Phytotoma, Ploceus, Psittacirostra, 

 Pyrrhula, Sturnus. 



CHARACTERS OF THE GENERA. 



1 . ALAUDA. Beak short, straight, conical ; mandibles of equal length ; 

 hinder toe and claw very long and nearly straight. 



2. PARUS. Beak short, straight, conical, compressed, cutting, and 

 pointed ; nostrils basal, rounded, and hidden in feathers ; legs strong, 

 having three front and a hind toe perfectly distinct; the hind claw 

 strongest and most curved. 



3. EMBERIZA. Beak conical, short, and straight, with the edges of the 

 upper mandible inclining inwards, and a hard prominence on the palate. 



4. FRINGILLA. Beak short, thick, conical ; upper mandible convex, 

 and without crest or ridge ; nostrils basal, round, open, and covered by 

 the feathers of the forehead ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; hiud toe 

 as long as the inner, and its claw longer than those in front, curved, and 

 rarely straight. 



5. LOXIA. Beak strong, thick, compressed and curved ; nostrils 

 rounded, lateral, and near the root of the beak ; feet having three divided 

 toes before and one behind, the claw on the latter longer than the others, 

 and curved. 



6. CORYTHUS. Beak large; the point of the upper curved over the 

 lower mandible. 



7. PARADISEA. Beak straight, moderate sized, quadrangular, pointed, 

 slightly arched ; lower mandibles straight and pointed ; nostrils basal, 

 marginal, and open ; legs strong ; tarsus much longer than the middle toe, 

 and the hind toe, which is strong, much longer than the others. 



Only the generic characters of the illustrated examples are here given. 



COXIROSTRATA. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



ALAUDA Lark. There are about a dozen species of the Lark, of 

 which the Skylark (A. Arvensis), and the Wbodlark (A. Arborea), an- ol 

 most interest to the inhabitants of this country. 



The Skylark is so well known as scarcely to require description. The 

 beautiful little songster measures about seven inches, of which the tail is 

 three. It carries on its head a lengthened crest which it raises and 

 depresses at pleasure ; its plumage above is of a horny black, beneath it is 

 whitish ; irides greyish-brown ; back of the head and neck whitish-grey, 

 striped with dusky-brown ; lower part of the neck, breast, and sides, 

 dingy-white ; wing-coverts greyish-brown ; pinion-feathers dark brown ; 

 tail blackish-brown. The claws are long, especially the hinder claw, which 

 unfits the bird for perching, but they enable it to walk upon the grass 

 with ease, and to spring from the ground before the wings are expanded. 

 The food of the Lark chiefly consists of insects, worms, seeds, and oats. 

 It builds its nest on the ground, generally among long grass or young corn, 

 in which the female lays four or five eggs of a gneniBb-grey hue, mottled 

 with dark spots or dots. It is migratory, arriving in this country early in 

 February, and taking its departure in October. It is spread very generally 

 over Europe, and several parts of Asia and Africa. 



The Lark sings occasionally while resting on a clog of earth, but gene- 

 rally whilst rising spirally from the ground into the clear blue sky; at 

 which time the eye of the observer follows it with admiring interest till it 

 is lost sight of except as a speck on the boundless expanse, the cheerful 

 and animated song of the sweet-soaring bird " the messenger of morn "- 

 imparting, all the while, sensations of pleasure and calm delight. 



The Woodlark is somewhat less than the former. Though its song is 

 truly sweet, it is not quite so thrilling as that of the Skylark, its notes 

 are soft and plaintive ; it frequents woodland, hilly districts, where it 

 sometimes sings perched upon the branch of a decayed tree. Its song, 

 however, is generally poured forth when on the wing, which is sustained, 

 at times, for an hour without intermission. It builds its nest on the 

 ground like the Skylark ; its eggs are reddish-white, speckled with brown. 

 The Woodlark is found in every part of Europe. 



PARUS Titmouse. These birds are found over the whole world, 

 excepting in South America, New Holland, and the South Sea Islands; 

 but they are more numerous in the Northern than in the Tropical regions, 

 and the largest number are found in Europe. They climb the trunks of 

 trees and reeds by a succession of short and sudden flights, run up them 

 like the Woodpeckers, and dangle in all kinds of attitudes. In the summer 

 they are not much seen, as they retire to the forests for the purpose of 



