81 



No. 10.— INSESSORES (Perchers). Continued from vi. 182. 

 Conirostres (cone billed). 



i|RE come now to the second great division of the Perching 

 birds, and having examined all those whose soft notched 

 proclaims the insect nature of their food, we have arrived at 

 those exhibiting a harder and more conical shaped beak, bespeaking 

 at once that grain forms the principal part of their diet. As we 

 proceed with the families of this tribe, we shall see this typical 

 characteristic develop itself more and more, till we come to some 

 species armed with such strong sharp-pointed beaks, as to be 

 enabled to break the very stoutest seeds and even the stones of 

 many fruits, as well as to pierce the hard ground, in search of 

 food : but (as I before pointed out) nature makes no rapid strides 

 from one distinct kini to another, but only gradually and step by 

 step leads us on : thus, insensibly as it were, and through many 

 connecting links joining together genera and species, the most 

 opposite to one another in appearance and habits. 



ALAUDID^ (The Larks). 



We cannot have a better proof of what I have just said, than in 

 the family we now proceed to consider, standing at the head of the 

 Conirostral tribe, and bearing so great an affinity in many respects 

 to the last famQy of the Dentirostres, viz : the Pipits ; for the 

 Larks, though to a certain extent grain consumers, yet feed on 

 insects as well ; and though they have a short strong bill, yet it is 

 styled by Selby and Yarrell Subconic, rather than conical, proving 

 the exact position they hold. 



" Sky lark " (Alauda arvensis) . Intimately associated in the 

 minds of all with blue sky, bright sunshine, open down, and aerial 

 music, is the very name of this favorite songster : all its motions 



VOL, VII. — NO. XIX. G 



