ACCIPITRES. 251 
lines; a suite of white spots on the scapulars, and six or eight 
feathers in each tuft; a beautiful little bird.(1) ‘i 
Certain large species have the legs naked as well as the 
toes.(2) ° 
ORDER II. 
PASSERIN Zt. 
This order is the most numerous of the whole class. Its 
character, at first, seems purely negative, for it embraces all 
birds which are neither swimmers, waders, climbers, rapa- 
cious, nor gallinaceous. By comparing them with each other, 
however, we soon perceive a great mutual similarity of struc- 
ture, and particularly such insensible transitions from one 
genus to another, that it is extremely difficult to separate them 
into subdivisions. 
They neither have the violence of the birds of prey, nor 
the fixed regimen of the gallinacez, nor of the water-birds; 
insects, fruit, and grain constitute their food, which consists 
the more exclusively of grain, in proportion to the largeness 
of their beak, and of insects, as it is the more slender. Those 
which have strong beaks pursue even small birds. | 
Their stomach is a muscular gizzard. ‘They have, gene- 
rally, two very small ceca. Among them we find the singing 
birds, and the most complicated inferior larynx. 
The proportional length of their wings, and their power of 
flight are as various as their habits. 
i 
(1) We can find no difference between the Str. zorca of Cetti, the Str. carniol- 
ica of Scopoli, the Str. pulchella of Pallas and the Scops ; these gentlemen must 
have considered their birds as distinct, because Linneus described the tuft of his 
as consisting of a single feather. Add the St. nudipéde, (Bub. nudipedes,) Vieill. 
Amer. 22.—The Str. atricapilla, T. Col. 45, or Str. crucigera, Spix, 1X.—The Str. 
noctula, T. Col. 99. 
(2) The Str. ketupa, T. Col. 74, and the Str. Leschenauldi, 1d. Col. 20, will be 
found at most to form but one species. 
