PERCHING BIRDS. 143 
commonly hardy birds, and their distribution is almost 
universal, some species of them being found in all parts 
of the globe where animals can live. They are charac- 
terized by short and thick beaks, and the two mandibles 
fit each other so well that, when they are together, the 
beak looks like a short cone, with a mere slit from the 
point to the base, as seen in Fig.116. The great strength 
seen in the beaks of these birds is needed in opening the 
woody capsules covering the seeds which constitute a 
portion of their food. 
239. I can notice but a few of this family. There are 
many of the Grosbeaks in this country, but the most 
beautiful and famous of them is the Cardinal Grosbeak, 
or Redbird. It is not only splendid in its colors, but in 
its song also. It is one of the prominent birds of the 
Middle and Southern States, and some stragglers get as 
far north as New England. The American Goldfinch, or 
“ellow-bird, one of the finest of the Finch family, lives on 
the seeds of hemp, the sunflower, and the thistle. From 
its fondness for the seeds of the latter it is often called 
the Thistlefinch. This bird can be educated to do many 
things, as drawing its drink from a glass. The Sparrows 
are an interesting group in this family. There are many 
species, but the two most common in this country are the 
Song Sparrow, one of the earliest warblers of the spring, 
and ‘the Chipping-bird, so familiar to every one. There 
is a brown Sparrow very much like the Chipping Spar- 
row, but a more shy bird, brighter in color, and having a 
longer tail. Just before migrating in the autumn to the 
south, these birds, losing their shyness, come nearer to 
the habitations of men, and are seen flitting about in little 
flocks. The common Snowbird is one of the Finches. 
This hardy and numerous species, common to both con- 
tinents, comes from the north in flocks into the United 
States in October and November, on their way south. 
The Bobolink, or Ricebird, as it is called as it goes 
south, is also one of this family. 
