196 Animal Life 
hears of a “mule” between a Warbler and a Finch, or even a Wagtail and a Lark, 
although the most remote types in other families will cross; thus, we have Pheasants 
interbreeding with Grouse, and diving Ducks with the surface-feeding species. 
The best way of making the Passerine groups intelligible seems to be to brigade 
them into larger divisions according to certain broad correspondences in form and 
habit, premising that this method of classification is only mtended for convenience, 
and does not show the natural relationships. The smaller groups—the so-called 
families—are in themselves natural enough, though there is less perfect agreement 
about them than is the case with the real family groups previously considered. 
In the present case it will also be advisable to go into a few details as to the 
geographical distribution of the various groups and their habits, as tending to render 
the work of identification easier. It will be noticed that the majority of the groups 
having separate scales at the back of the shank belong to South America, while all 
these birds with shanks scaled at the back, except the Larks, have the organ of voice 
differently and more imperfectly constructed. None are fine songsters, and they are often 
called “Songless Passerines.”’ 
BUSH-HAUNTING PASSERINE BIRDS 
With short rounded wings and very strong feet; active in cover, but unable, or at least unwilling, to fly far; 
mainly insectivorous. 
The Lyre-Birds (Menuride) are large pheasant-like creatures with very strong feet 
and nearly straight claws (see Fig. 1); they are the biggest of Passerme birds except 
some of the larger Crows, and inhabit Australia. 
The Scrub-Birds (Atrichiide), also Australian, are small birds with rather long tails 
and very short wings; their shanks have separate scales on the back, by which they 
are separated from any other Passerine birds of similar shape found in Australia. 
The Tapaculos (Pteroptochide) inhabit South America; they have very strong 
coarse feet, much like the Lyre-Bird’s on a small scale, and fairly stout and short 
beaks with the nostrils overhung by a scale on the inner side. ‘Their tails are rather 
short, and they are great skulkers, but very noisy. Their shanks have several scales 
up the back. This distinguishes them from the larger Wrens, to which they bear 
some resemblance in form and _ habits. 
The Babblers (Crateropodide) (Fig. 3) are widely spread over the warm parts of 
the Old World. Except for their soft loose plumage, short wings, and coarser bill and 
feet, they much resemble the Thrushes and Warblers, but differ much im some habits, 
being exceedingly sociable and affectionate, and very noisy without usually shining 
much as songsters. The most familiar to Huropean eyes is the pretty little cage-bird 
from China and the Himalayas commonly sold as the Peking Robin (Liothria luteus) ; 
but it appears probable that the Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus), a Huropean and 
even British bird, is really an outlymg member of this family, as is also the Wren Tit 
(Chamea fasciata) of California. It is agreed that neither 
of these birds really are Tits. ———— Babblers 
3 Bar 
usually build open ‘ ana nests. 
N.B.—The only 22 = three- 
toed Passerine bird ee (Cho l- 
ornis paradowa) in 
missing is a Babbler. 
ide), which are found nearly 
classed with the Babblers; but 
notably in having no bristles at 
which the outer front-toe is 
The Wrens (Lroglodyt- 
everywhere, are sometimes 
they differ in some points, 
the base cf the bill, in being 
x Fig. 3. : 
much less sociable and much A BABBLER. more generally gifted as 
