CHAPTBE II. 



PASSERINE BIRDS. 

 THE CROWS, BABBLERS, AND BULBULS. 



MORE than half of the known species of birds belong 

 to the great Passerine order, so called from the Latin 

 name of its most prominent member, Passer, the Spar- 

 row. Birds of this order are usually small, the Raven 

 being the biggest, while some are almost the smallest of 

 birds. The Sparrow and Mynah represent fair average 

 sizes of Passerine birds. 



They can always be distinguished by their feet ; the 

 foot of a Sparrow or Crow will serve as a model for all. 

 The shank is slight, and covered behind with long entire 

 plates, and before with a single row of large broad scales, 

 or even with one continuous horny plate ; there are three 

 toes before, unconnected by any web or other junction 

 and one behind, which, taking it with its claw, is as big 

 as or bigger than any of the rest. 



The shank may be long or short, and the foot as a 

 whole large or small as compared with the bird's body, 

 but the style of scaling and proportion of the toes is al- 

 ways unmistakeable. The shape, and the wings, tail, 

 and beak vary a great deal in Passerine birds ; but they 

 always have large heads in proportion to their size. 



