PERCHING BIRDS. 
migratory, and Crows, as is well known, gather in great flocks during 
the winter, returning each night to a roost frequented, in some 
instances, by two or three hundred thousand Crows. 
While the Crows and Jays are technically ‘Song Birds’ their voices 
are far from musical. Nevertheless they possess much range of 
expression and several species learn to enunciate words with more 
or less ease. 
_ The Starlings, (Family Sturnid@) are Old World birds represented 
in America only by the European Starling which was introduced into 
Central Park, New York City, in 1890 and is now common in the sur- 
rounding country. 
The Blackbirds, Orioles, and Meadowlarks, (Family /cteridg) number 
about one hundred and fifty species and are found only in the New 
World. The Blackbirds are most numerous in North America, where, 
migrating in vast armies and often living in large colonies, they be- 
come among the most characteristic and conspicuous of our birds. 
The Orioles are most numerous in the tropics, where some thirty 
species are known. Apparently all of them are remarkable as nest 
builders, the large Cassiques, nearly related, great yellow and black 
birds, weaving pouches three and four feet long, several dozen of 
which, all occupied, may be seen swinging from the branches of a 
single tree. 
The Finches, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, etc.,(Family /yingillide) number 
nearly six hundred species, a greater number than is contained in any 
other family of birds. They are distributed throughout the world, 
except in the Australian region, some ninety odd species inhabiting 
North America. ; 
Varying widely in color, the Fringillidae all agree in possessing 
stout, conical bills, which are of service to them in crushing the seeds. 
on which they feed so largely. 
The streaked, brownish Sparrows, often so difficult of identification, 
are usually inhabitants of plains, fields, or marshes, where they are 
rendered inconspicuous by their dull colors. The more gayly attired 
Grosbeaks, Buntings, Cardinals, etc., frequent trees or bushy growths, 
where their plumage -either harmonizes with their surroundings or 
where they have the protection afforded by the vegetation. 
Most of the members of this family are good singers, some of them 
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