DIVISIONS OF BIKUS. 



30.3 



character, the Insessores have been divided into four great sections, 

 as follows : — 



1. Conirostres, — in which the bill is strong and on tlie whole con- 

 icalj broad at the base, and tapering with considerable rapidity to the 



Fig. 2'iT. — A, Head of Hoopne (U/mpo, eprip^), slinwini^ the teimint.stral type of I'leak, 

 B, Head of Red-Lacked Shrike (Lanhis mlhrrlu), showing tlie deiitil'ostral type of 

 beak. C, Head of White-bellied Swift (Cypselus meiha), showing the ti.ssinjstral 

 type of beak. D, Head of Coi-n-bunting (Emheriza mllinrin)^ sltowing the coiiiros- 

 tral type of beak. E, Foot of the Yellow Wagtail (MotacUla sulphurco). F, Foot 

 of a Finch (Fringilla). 



point (fig. 217, D). The upper mandiljle is not markedlj' tootheil at 

 its lower margin. Good examples of the conirostral beak are to lie 

 found in the Sparrows, Finches, Buntings, Crows, &c. The greater 

 part of the Conirostres are omnivorous, eating anything which may 

 come in their way; but some are granivorons, subsisting upon grains 



