76 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



§ 286. Why do they produce more melodious notes when kept in 

 cages ? 



§ 287. Describe the Red-bird. 



§ 288. Describe the Cedar-bird. 



§ 289. Desrcibe the Mocking-bird. 



§ 290. Describe the Blue-bird. 



§ 291. Describe the Salangane. 



§ 292. Describe the edible bird's-nest. 



§ 293. Which ones are considered the greatest delicacy? 



§ 294. Where is the abode of the Salangane, and of what substances is 

 its nest made ? 



§ 295. What is the principal motive for collecting those nests? 



§ 296. Describe the Rice-bird. 



§ 297. In what consists the injury it does, and in what the benefit? 



§ 298. Describe the Cardinal-bird. 



§ 299. Describe the Goldfinch. 



§ 300. Describe the Baltimore Oriole. 



| 301. By what is it distinguished '( 



§ 302. Describe the Red-winged Starling. 



§ 303. Describe its usefulness and the injury it does. 



§ 304. Describe the Ruby-throated Humming-bird. 



§ 305. What do you know of its nest ? 



§ 306. On what do Humming-birds feed? 



SECTION XVI. 



3d Order — Climbers : (Scansores.) 



§ 307. Climbers are those birds which have the outer- 

 toe and thumb-toe of each foot directed backwards, to 

 enable them to climb the trunks of trees ; as parrots, wood- 

 peckers, toucans, and cuckoos. 



§ 308. Parrots are among birds what monkeys are 

 among the mammalia, and have for several thousand years 

 been extolled for the beauty of their plumage, and the 

 facility with which they imitate the human voice. 



5 309. Parrots are found in the tropics, always in large 

 flocks upon the highest trees. They feed on different 

 kinds of grain and fruit, and are, when very young, a 

 delicious food. They often live to the age of a hundred 

 years. 



§ 310. The Parrots of America are always of a green 

 color, or at least some green spots are seen upon them ; 



