ISS AVES. 



tlie entire anntoniy nfwhicli is widely dilTcrent] ; but it ri's^embles tlie other in all tlie rest of its conformation, 

 and particularly by its naked ypaces on the f^ides of the iieud. Of all birds, this one is said to imitate most com- 

 pletely the lang-uac;e of ilan. 



Nothing; can be more perplexing to systcmatists than the diversity in the form of bill observable in birds other- 

 wise so nearly allied. [It intimates, with a variety of other circumstances, that naturalists have attached undue 

 importance to the character thence derivable, in tracin^^ the affinities of these animals. The fact is, that the Pas- 

 serime contain two principal centres of radiation,— the genera Turdus and Corvm; — tog;ether with several of 

 subordinate importance, each of which may exhibit modifications suited for any mode of hfe, as Jf/z-catc/ihi/;, 

 iiec far-sucking, &c. : those species analoj^ously modified upon different of these types, however, having no imme- 

 diate physiological relationship for each other, such as is evinced by genera really connected by affinity, how- 

 ever diflerently modified, in their changes of plumage, system of coloration, eggs, &c., all of which require to be 

 taken much more into consideration than has hitherto been the practice, if these birds are to be classified in 

 accordance with their true natural alfinities. One great help to a sound arrangement is afforded by the geogra- 

 phical distribution of forms; another by the nestbng plumage, as stated on a former occasion ; and a third, 

 judiciously and not inconsiderately followed, by the style and character of the colouring and structure of the fea- 

 thers, which are worthy of particidar attention. Habit is the most dece|ttive g"ulde of any, but should nevertheless 

 be duly kept in view]. 



The Crackles {Craculua, Cliv. ; Crido/heres; Viclllot) — 



Constitute another genirs allicl to the Tlirushes [or ratlier to tlie Starlings], the species of ■s^■hich 

 inhabit .\irica and the countries bordering on the Indian Oecan. Tlieir beak is compressed, very 

 slightly iUTuated and notched, its comnu.ssin-e forming an angle as in the Starlings. The feathers on 

 the hcml are nearly always narrow, and there is a naked space round the eye. Their habits arc those 

 of the Starlings, like whiehtliey fly in large flocks, and pursue insects. 



One species appears occasionally in Europe, the Rose Ouzel {Pastor roseus, Meyer), [which is sulficiently dis- 

 tinct from the true Crackles]. It is of a shining black, with the back, nmip, scapulars, and under-parts, rose- 

 coloured; the coronal feathers narrow, and lengthened into a pendent crest. This bird is of gi'eat sen'icein waiTQ 

 countries, by destroying Grasshoppers. 



Another species, Paradiscvus tristis, Cm., has become celebrated for similar services rendered to flie Isle of 

 France. It is however a very general feeder, nestles in palm-trees, and is extremely docile. Its size is that of a 

 Blackbird, and colour brown, blackish on the head ; a spot near the tip of the wing, lower part of the abdomen, 

 and tips of the lateral tail-feathers, white. There are numerous others. Liima;us and his followers brought 

 together most discordant species under the ;ippellution Gnicukt. 



The Manourhtxes {Mojiorrhinus, Yieillot) — 

 Have the heak very much coni])ressed, only slightly arcuated, and feehly notched ; the nostrils large, 

 Ijut in great part closed by a membrane, ^vhich leaves only a narrow slit ; neck short. The frontal 

 feathers, which are soft like those of young birds, are partly refllected over the nostrils. 

 M. viridis,\\(t\W(A, Cal. UC). 



The CiiocARDS { Pi/rrhocora.r, Cuv.) — ■ 



Have the compressed, arched, and emarginatcd hill of flie Thnislics, hut their nostrils arc covered by 

 incumbent feathers, as in the Crows, from A\liich they were lung undistingiushed. 



"We have one the size of a Daw, the Al|iiiie Oiocard {Corvns pjirrhocorax, Lin.), entirely black, with n yellow 

 bill, the feet brown at first, then yellow, and linaU> red, which nestles in the clefts of rocks in the highest moun- 

 tains, whence, in winter, it descends in great flucks into the valleys. It feeds on Insects, snails, and likewise on 

 fruit and grain, and does not reject carrion : [is simply a modified Crow, nearly allied to the Choughs]. 



Another, in India {Pip\ hexanemiis, Cuv.), is distinguished by three barbless shafts, as long as the body, which 

 grow on each side among the feathers which cover the ear. 



1 can And no suilicicnt character by which to separate from the Thrush group 



The Orioles (OrioIuSy Lin.), — • 

 \Mierein the beak, otherwise resembling that of the Thrushes, is merely a little stouter, the legs also 

 Itcing ratlier shorter, and the wings }>roportionally longer. Linufeus, and several of his successors 

 confounded them with the Cassicans, which they merely resemble in colour. 



The European Oriole (0. galhiila, Lin.), is somewhat larger than a Blackbird. The male is of a bright yellow, 

 with the wings, tail, and a spot behind each eye, black, the tip of the tail yellow ; but during the two first years 

 he retains the permanent colouring of the female, wherein the yellow is replaced by olive-green, and the black by 

 brown. This bird suspends its skilfully-constructed nest to the branches of trees, feeds on cherries and other 

 fruit, and during spring on insects. It is timorous, remains in France only for a short time in summer, and 

 travels in pairs, or three together. [In accordance with its migratory habits, it has longer wings than any of its 

 numerous congeners.] 



