PASSERINE BIRDS. 



I8l 



appear to avoid the vicinity of man, flying about woodland districts in pairs or in small parties. 

 Their gala dress is donned during the rainy season, and is retained for about four months. The 

 process of moulting occupies but a very short time, and the long tail-feathers grow with great rapidity. 

 They are often brought to Europe in considerable numbers, and are sometimes known under the 

 name of " Birds of Paradise." The song of this species is extremely simple, but not unpleasing ; it is 

 never heard except during the period of incubation, and ceases when the beauty of the plumage 

 has disappeared. 



THE AMERICAN FINCHES. 



The American Finches include a great number of species called, not inappropriately, Bunting 

 Finches {Passeretta), from the fact that the plumage presents markings very similar to those 

 seen on our Buntings. They are characterised by a slender, conical beak, somewhat arched at its 



THE WHITE-THROATED OR SONG SFARROW {Zonotrichia albicollis). 



roof, and straight towards its tip ; the wings are of moderate size, with the secondary quills of unusual 

 length, the tarsus high, the toes long, and armed with large claws, those of the hind toes resembling 

 spurs. Some species are essentially inhabitants of woodland districts, and carefully avoid the more 

 open country ; some confine themselves entirely to well-watered regions, or river banks ; and others, 

 again, frequent the sea-shore, open fields, and pastures, or replace our House Sparrows in their relation 

 to man and his domestic life. We must, however, content ourselves with the mention of but a few 

 principal members of this extensive group. 



The WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are inhabitants of North America, while the 

 MORNING FINCHES, on the contrary, occupy the southern portion of that hemisphere. Both 

 species have been classed under the name of Zonotrichia. These birds are furnished with a slightly 

 conical beak, the upper mandible of which is straight and somewhat pointed, the corners of the mouth 

 bent downwards, the lower mandible almost equalling the upper one in height. The wings are of 



