70 



CLASS AVES. 



ORDER PASS ERIN A. 



so as to give the idea of a helmet. These birds are gregarious, living 

 together in large societies like the Rooks ; they construct their nests in the 

 form of an alembic, the entrance being by a narrow neck, which is attached 

 to the branches of trees. They are generally natives of America, living 

 upon insects and maize, upon which they commit great depredations, 

 so that in some parts of the United States they have acquired the name of 

 Maize Thieves. 



Cuvier has divided them into three subgenera, Cassicus, three species ; 

 Icterus, six species ; and Xantharnus, twelve species ; from some trifling 

 differences in the shape of the beak. 



COLIUS Coly. Size of a Thrush, natives of Africa and the Indies, live 

 on fruit. 



CORACIAS Batter. This genus belongs to the old world, and very 

 nearly resembles the Jay (Corvus Glandularis) in its habits, and the loose 

 feathers on the forehead ; their plumage is very vivid and beautiful ; their 

 note very unbarmonious. There are nine species, of which the Roller 

 (C. Gracula) is the only British species, and very rare here ; it is about the 

 size of the Jay ; is a very wild bird, although sociable with its own 

 species ; builds in birch trees, and feeds upon worms, grain, and roots. It 

 makes a chattering noise, whence its name Gamdus. 



CORVTJS Crow. The birds which form this genus do not differ from 

 the others in the family Conirostres ,'in any material circumstance, except 

 their size ; their internal structure being the same. With respect to their 

 habits, they are generally very cunning, and when domesticated are fond of 

 stealing and hiding things for which they have no use, as pieces of money, 

 &c. They build usually in trees, and lay from four to six eggs. As to 

 food, they live principally on the grubs of Chafers and other insects, and also 

 upon grain, but they are not such destroyers of seed as is commonly supposed. 

 They are divided by Cuvier into five subgenera, according to the arching of 

 the beak, the length of the tail, and the existence of a tuft. 



The Crows form the first subgenera, which includes eight species. 



The Raven (C. Corax) is the largest of all the birds belonging to the 

 Passerine order, and equals the Domestic Cock in size, being about two feet 

 in length. The Raven lives more retired than the other species of this genus, 

 amongst the woods in the neighbourhood of towns ; he feeds upon carrion 

 and other oflal, which he scents at a great distance, and he lives to so great 

 an age, that in many languages expressions are borrowed from him to desig- 

 nate longevity. They fly at a great height, and usually in pairs, during fine 

 weather, making a deep loud noise, different from their usual croaking. They 

 are much attached to their old habitations. 



The Carrion Crow (C. Corone) is not half the size of the Raven, but 

 very nearly resembles it in colour ; its beak, however, is not so much arched, 

 nor the tail so square. They are more numerous than Ravens, and live in 

 pairs in the woods ; like them also they live upon carrion, worms, insects, 

 and different kinds of grain. Their croaking was considered by Virgil as 

 foreboding rain ; and like the Raven is believed to be a bird of ill omen. 



The Rook (C. Frugelius). The Rook in size and plumage resembles the 

 Crow, but it differs from it in having the base of the bill covered with a 

 rough scabrous skin, which in the old birds is white. Rooks live principally 

 upon insects, or rather upon the grubs of insects, particularly that of the 

 Dor-beetle, or Cockchafer ; and it has been observed, that better crops have 

 been obtained from patches of ground on which Rooks have alighted in 

 search of food, than others from which they have been driven ; so that they 

 make ample compensation for the mischief they do in corn-fields. Rooks 

 are gregarious, and are the only birds of this genus which are so ; during 

 the day they are out in large flocks in quest of food, but at night they return 

 home to the rookery, which has been beautifully described by Virgil : 



' E pastu decedens agmine magno, 



Corconun incrcpuit densis eiercitus all's. 



The Jackdaw (C. Monedula) is a much smaller bird than the Rook, not 

 measuring more than thirteen inches in length. It is very common in Eng- 

 land, and builds in church towers or ruins, in large flocks ; it rarely builds 

 in trees, but has been occasionally found in Rabbit burrows. They are easily 

 tamed, and taught to speak some words. 



The Magpies constitute the second division : they are not so large as the 

 Crows ; the upper mandible is more arched, and the tail long and cuneiform. 



The Magpie (C. Pica) is notorious for its mischievous propensities, and is 

 very familiar ; it also may be soon taught to speak. It seems confined to 

 the temperate and northern regions. The number of the species is eight. 



The Jays, Nutcrackers, and Temias, are the remaining subgenera. 



The Jay (C. Glandularius), though one of our most common birds, is 

 remarkably beautiful ; it is about thirteen inches long ; neck, back, and breast 

 of a light cinnamon colour ; bill black; eyes white; the head-feathers white-, 

 streaked with black, and forming a tuft, which can be elevated or depressed 

 at pleasure ; lesser wing-coverts bay, greater barred with black, little blue 

 and white alternately ; tail black and edged with brown. The Jay builds 

 her nest on the top of underwood, laying a foundation of coarse sticks, and 

 afterwards the fine fibres of the roots of trees ; and the young follow the 

 parent till the following spring. They live upon acorns during the winter, 

 whence their specific name, but during summer make great havoc amongst 

 peas and cherries. Their note is very harsh, but when domesticated they 

 will soon imitate many words and sounds. 



GLAUCOPIS Wattle Bird. About the size of a Jay ; feeds on insects, 

 commonly walks ; is a native of New Zealand. 



GRACULA GraMe. About the size of a Thrush ; learns to talk ; found 

 in Java. 



MYOPHONA. One species, twelve inches long, found in Java. 



PHYTOTOMA Plant-cutter. A mischievous bird, size of a Quail, native 

 of South America. 



PLOCEUS Weaver Bird. This genus of birds is named from the peculiar 

 dexterity with which they weave their curious and often very complex iii\-ts. 

 The size of their beak allies them with the Cassici, from which, however, 

 they are distinguished by having the commissure of the beak straight instead 

 of forming an angle. 



There are thirteen species, or more, natives of Africa and South 

 America. 



PsiTTACIROSTRA. Very nearly approach the Fringflloe and Psittaci : 

 found in the South Sea Islands. 



PYRRHULA Butt/inch. The birds included in this genus were sepa- 

 rated from the Grosbeaks of Linnaeus by Brisson, on account of the differ- 

 ence in the form of their beak. They are found in all parts of the world 

 excepting New Holland ; are least in number in Africa, but are numerous 

 in temperate and cold regions. Those which live in northern climes keep 

 close to the woods in summer, and approach the habitations of man only 

 during winter. They feed generally on grain, which they separate from 

 the husks, and are fond of the buds of trees. 



The species are numerous ; some of which are natives of northern lati- 

 tudes, some of tropical climes, and some of temperate regions. 



STURNUS Stare or Starling. There has been much confusion in refer- 

 ence to the species belonging to this genus, many of which belonging to 

 those of Lamprotornis and Pastor were formerly included in it. From the 

 former of these genera the Sturni are distinguished by the beak being flat 

 above and not notched, instead of curved above and toothed ; by the second 

 and third alar quills being longest, instead of the fourth or fifth ; and by 

 the middle toe being connected with the outer instead of the inner toe. 



The Starlings live and migrate in flocks from colder to warmer districts 

 as winter approaches, but return in spring, and are generally found about 

 marshy districts, feeding in the meadows amongst the cattle, upon in 

 principally, but also upon grain. They build their nests in the hollows of 

 trees, under the tiles of houses, and in holes in the wall, and are spread all 

 over the globe. 



The first subgenus includes those without wattles, of which the Common 

 Starling (S. VulgarisJ, the Sardinian, the Louishm, th<- Magellanic, tin- 

 Chilian, the Pied, the Greenish, and the Red-headed Starling are the 

 species. 



The Wattled Stare (S. Carunculatus), the Merops Caruncidatus (C. Pha- 

 roides), and the Certhia Carunculata (C. Musicus), form the second sub- 

 genus. 



