VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



leaves of trees. Extended over the whole globe, 

 their office is to keep down the myriads of little 

 insects, so small as to be almost invisible to man ; 

 but which, from their numbers, would otherwise 

 be very injurious to vegetation. " The chief peculi- 

 arity which runs through this numerous family, is 

 the very small size and delicate structure of its 

 individuals. Excepting the Humming-birds, we find 

 among these elegant little creatures, the smallest 

 birds in creation. The diminutive Golden - crests 

 (Regulus)* the Nightingale (Philomela f Luscinia), 

 the White-throat (Curruca\ Cinerea), and the Wood- 





t 



THE NIGHTINGALE ( Philomela Lusdnia). 



* Regulus, a little king, t -J>/Ae, pltileo, to love, and 

 J Curruca, some small bird, in Latin. 



, melos, song. 



