, are very uniform in character. 
common throughout Europe, and a great part of Asia. 
In addition to its beauty, it is a 
lively little bird, and has a pleasant 
song. It often makes its elegant nest 
in fruit-trees near houses. 
Fig. c. The Linnet (Frézgilla 
cannabina) is one of the commonest 
of the seed-eating finches; its song és 0! Goldfinch. 
is clear, strong and flute-like. In spring the crown of the 
head, and the upper part of the breast of the male 
are adorned with fine carmine-red, and the rest of the 
plumage is brown and grey, which are the ordinary 
colours of the female and the young. The Linnet 
is found in woods and fields in all parts of Europe. 
Fig. d. The Siskin (Frzngilla spinus) attracts 
attention by its lively ways, and well-sustained, though 
not remarkable song. It is common throughout Eu- 
rope, and is always seen in large flocks. It feeds on 
the seeds of pines, firs, birch and alder, and makes 
its nest among these trees and bushes. The male 
has a black crown and black throat, and the rest of 
the plumage is of a fine yellowish green; in the 
female it is more grey. 
Fig. e. The Citril Finch (77mgilla citrinella) 
is yellowish green, but the neck is ashy grey on the 
back and sides. The bird is rather longer than the 
Siskin, and its beak is more obtuse. It is confined 
to the southern parts of Europe. 
Fig. b. The Canary (Serinus canarius) which 
was first brought from the Canary Islands three 
hundred years ago, is now completely acclimatised 
in Europe. It is now dispersed throughout the world 
as a favourite cage-bird. It is very tame and intelli- 
gent, and the male is a charming singer. 
Tribe V. Fissirostres. 
(Plate XIX.) 
These birds are distinguished by their deeply- 
cleft beak, which is rather curved at the tip, and by 
the unusually wide gape, which opens to behind the 
eyes. Their legs are weak, and their toes small, 
but their powers of flight are immensely developed. 
Want of food compels them to migrate to tropical 
countries in autumn, and they return in spring, often 
making their nests in the same spot as before. 
Family I. Hirundinida. (Swallows.) 
The Swallows and Martins have a_ short 
beak, weak legs, pointed wings, and in most cases 
a forked tail. 
Fig. a. The Chimney Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 
is shining black above, with the forehead and throat 
br ownish- red, and the rest of the under-surface of the 
body yellowish-white. It makes its nest under the 
eaves of houses, and sometimes in outhouses and 
stables, confiding in protection, and willingly making 
itself a domestic animal. Its arrival is welcomed 
everywhere as a sign of spring. 
Fig. b. The House Martin (Chelidon urbica) 
is black above, with the throat and under-surface of 
the body white. It does not fly so rapidly as the 

swallow, 
' 

was) 
and builds its nests 
numbers together, on the outside of 
houses. It arrives in England in spring 
a few days later than the Swallow, and 
assembles in flocks on roofs &c., in 
the autumn, before departing for ite Egg of House 
South. Martin. 
Fig. c. The Sand-Martin (Cotile riparia) is 
mouse-coloured above, and white beneath, with a grey 
transverse band on the head. It one of the 
smallest of the European swallows. It is generally 
seen near rivers and streams, and it makes its nest 
in burrows in the banks. 
Caprimulgide. 
(Plate XIX.) 
The Goatsuckers have a much wider gape than 
the Swallows, which is surrounded by. stiff bristles. 
The beak is small, the hind toe movable, and the 
plumage very soft. 
Fig. d. The Goatsucker (Caprimulgus europeus) 
has brownish-grey plumage, speckled with black and 
white. It is a night-flying bird, and is not uncommon 
in the woods of Central and Southern Europe. A 
strange idea was long prevalent that this bird was 
in the habit of sucking milk from goats. 
Tribe VI. Dentirostres. 
(Plate VI.) 
These birds have a slightly curved beak, like 
that of a bird of prey, with a tooth in the upper 
mandible, and feed on small mammals and _ birds, 
as well as on insects. But their song, which they 
can modify to imitate the voices of very different 
kinds of birds, indicates them as belonging to the 
singing birds. Their colouring is rather monotonous, 
and all our indigenous species are marked with a 
black streak near the eyes. 
Family Laniida. (Shrikes, or Butcher-Birds.) 
Fig. a. The Great Grey Shrike (Lantus excu- 
bitor) is nine or ten inches long, and fifteen inches 
in expanse of wing. Notwith- 
standing its comparatively small 
size, it feeds on birds as large as 
thrushes, and even partridges, as 
well as on young birds and mice. 
It is found in all parts of Europe, 
and is in very ill repute, on ac- Egg 
count of its destroying useful birds. 
Fig. b. The Red-backed Shrike (Lantus collurio) 
is the smallest and prettiest of the European species. 
Its song is excellent, but is always composed of 
snatches of the songs of other birds. It arrives in 
May, and leaves in August. It is met with in Europe, 
Asia, Africa, and North America, and prefers well- 
wooded districts. 
Fig. c. The Lesser Grey Shrike (Lantus minor) 
inhabits Central and Southern Europe. It is found 
chiefly in woods, where it makes its nest on thick 
branches, using odoriferous plants for the purpose. 
, often in considerable 

is 
Family II. (Goatsuckers). 

of Great Grey 
Shrike 
Order V. Columbae. 
The Pigeons form a small Order of birds which 
The beak is soft and 
slender at the base, and slightly curved at the tip, 
and the nostrils are placed on a raised cartilage. 
Their long pointed wings are fitted for very rapid 
(Pigeons.) 
and the hind toe is per- 
fectly developed , and place -d at the same level as 
the others. They live in pairs, and build neatly 
constructed nests in the clefts of rocks, in trees, or 
among shrubs. 
the legs are short, 
flight , 
