CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES 



159 



the branches of trees over the water; these are so closely ^voveu as completely to exclude the 

 weather; the P. C«^ens/s builds similar nests, sometimes five or six being suspended from a 

 single branch. There are still other African species, noted for the peculiar forms of their nests 

 and the ingenuity displayed in erecting them. 



The Textor enjthrorhynchus is a South African species, of the size of a sparrow, which chieflv 

 subsists on parasitic insects which it picks out of the backs of buffaloes. It is said also to give no- 

 tice to the wild buffaloes of the approach of danger by suddenly flying up in the air. The Buphaya 

 Africana and B. erythrorhynchus feed in a similar manner from the back of the rhinoceros. 



The Bengal Weaver-Bird, Loxia Bengalensis, is five inches long, brown above and yellow- 

 ish-wliite beneath, and builds its nest in the shape of a purse, suspending it over the water to the 

 outer branch of a tree, the entrance being from below. The next year the bird builds a new nest, 

 suspending it from the bottom of this, and the next year another, and so on, so that five or six nests 

 are sometimes seen strung together. 



THE GREEN GKOsBcAi. 



THE GROSBEAKS. 



These birds have the bill very large, broad, and thick, aiid the mandibles nearly equal ; they 

 generally inhabit the woods of mountainous countries, and are shy and wild in their nature. 

 They feed on seeds and fruits, and are fond of the kernels of stone-fruit, which their powerful bills 

 enable them to break with facility. 



Genus COCCOTHRAUSTES : .Coccofhraustes. — This comprises the Common Grosbeak of 

 Europe, or Haw-Finch, C. vulgaris — Finson Gros-Bec of the French. This bird is seven inches 

 long; is of different shades of brown and gray, variegated with black and white; its eggs are 

 oHve-green, five to six in number. It feeds on pollen-stalks, laurel-berries, &c.; found in most 

 parts of Europe ; permanent in Italy. 



The Green Finch or Green Grosbeak — Gros-Bcc Verdier of the French — C. chloris, is six 



inches long ; upper parts of an olive-yellow ; pale yellow beneath ; frequents gardens, orchards, 



small woods, and cultivated lands ; has a harsh, monotonous cry, makes its nest on low bushes or 



hedges, lays from four to six white eggs, and is common throughout Eui-ope. It feeds on seeds, 



' and sometimes on insects. 



Under the genus Loxia Bechstein includes the following : the Paradise Grosbeak. L. ery- 



