CHARACTERS OF THE OMNIVOR^. 171 



of the others. They eat most animal substances, carrion, 

 insects, seeds, and other farinaceous and pulpy vegetable 

 substances, and some of them prey upon living animals, 

 though generally weak ones, or when they are in an enfeebled 

 state ; and most, if not all of them, plunder the nests of 

 other birds, eating indiscriminately the eggs or the callow 

 young. 



CHARACTERS OF THE OMNIVOR^E. 



Plumage close, firm, and glossy : the feathers being of 

 hard and compact texture on all the exposed parts, with the 

 exception of the head, which has sometimes loose feathers or 

 a sort of crest. Colours strong and pure, uniform or with 

 bold contrasts. Prevailing colour of those which are most 

 decidedly British, black, with green, blue, purple, or bronze 

 reflections of metallic lustre. Other colours, grey, white, 

 blue, and green, rarely brown, and never red or yellow in 

 any species resident in Britain, or regularly appearing as a 

 visitant ; though many foreign ones are very gay. 



Bill of mean length, coulter-shaped, strong, ridged, pointed 

 at the tip, and fitted for punching or digging, convex on the 

 upper side, and often with a margin. The feet, formed for 

 walking or for perching, having three toes before and one 

 behind ; they walk firmly, and many of them also hop with 

 the assistance of the wings. The wings are of average length, 

 firm in the feathers, and pointed at the tips. 



Nestle in the tops of trees, in thick brakes and bushes, in 

 the clefts of rocks, and in old buildings, or buildings that are 

 elevated above ordinary reach, or in the hollows of old trees. 

 They are all monogamous, but many of them live in large 

 societies, even during the breeding time ; and the more 

 solitary ones also hold occasional assemblies. They range to 

 considerable distances for their food, which they seek only 

 during the day. They are rather noisy, but their noise is 

 harsh and unmusical. Many of them frequent cultivated 



