358 



ELEMENTARY ZOOLOGY 



eighteen families, as the fly-catcher family (Tyrannidae), 

 the crow family (Corvidae), the sparrows and finches 

 (Fringillidae), the swallows (Hirundintdae), the warblers 

 (Mniotiltidse), the wrens (Troglodytidae), the thrushes, 

 robins and bluebirds (Turdidae), etc. In this book 

 nothing can be said of the various species which belong 

 to this order. However, as the passerine birds are 



FlG. 141. Horned larks. Otocoris alpestris, and snowttakes, Plcclrophcnax 

 nivalis. (Photograph from life by H. W. Menke; permission of Mac- 

 millan Co.) 



those which most immediately surround us and which, by 

 their familiar songs and nesting habits, most interest us, 

 the out-door study of birds by beginning students will be 

 devoted chiefly to the members of this order, and many 

 species will soon be got acquainted with. The robin and 

 bluebird will introduce us to the shyer and less familiar 

 song-thrushes; the study of the kingbird or bee-martin 



