344 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



The term applied to the group is that of Scansores or 

 climbers. The fourth is composed of those birds whose beaks 

 are so wide and gaping that it appears as if cleft, hence they 

 are named Fissirostres. The Swallow or Swift, in chase of 

 their insect prey, are familiar examples 

 of this structure. A much maligned 

 bird, that also feeds upon insects, exhi- 

 bits this peculiarity. We allude to the 

 Goatsucker (Caprimulgus Europceus, 

 Fig. 265), which popular credulity has 

 accused in Italy of sucking goats, and 

 here of sucking cows, and inflicting a fatal distemper upon 

 weaning calves. We have thus four tribes of perching 

 birds: 



I. Tooth-billed, Dentirostres. 



II. Conical-billed, Conirostrcs. 



III. Climbers, Scansores. 



IV. Gaping-billed, Fissirostres. 



We shall now notice some well-known individuals of each 

 of these tribes, though necessarily with great brevity, devoting 

 our space principally to those which are natives, in preference 

 to the more brilliant inhabitants of foreign climes. 



TRIBE L TOOTH-BILLED BIRDS. DENTIROSTRES. 



"Brisk Robin seeks a kindlier home; 

 Not like a beggar is he come, 

 But enters as a looked-for guest, 

 Confiding in his ruddy breast, 

 As if it were a natural shield 

 Charged with a blazon on the field, 

 Due to that good and pious deed, 

 Of which we in the ballad read." WORDSWORTH. 



Laniadce* The Shrikes or Butcher-birds bear some resem- 

 blance in habit, and in the curved projection of the upper 

 part of the bill, to the birds of prey. "The Grey Shrike," 

 says Mr. Yarrell, "feeds upon mice, shrews, small birds, frogs, 

 lizards, and large insects; after having killed its prey, it fixes 

 the body on a forked branch, or upon a sharp thorn, the more 

 * Latin Lanius, a butcher. 



