PERCHING BIRDS. 143 



commonly hardy birds, and their distribution is almost 

 universal, some species of them being foimd in all parts 

 of the globe where animals can live. They are charac- 

 terized by short and thick beaks, and the t^"o mandibles 

 fit each other so well that, when they are together, the 

 beak looks like a short cone, with a mere sht from the 

 point to the base, as seen in Fig. 116. The great strength 

 seen in the beaks of these birds is needed in opening the 

 woody capsules covering the seeds which constitute a 

 portion of their food. 



239. I can notice but a few of this family. There are 

 many of the Grosbeaks in this country, but the most 

 beautiful and famous of them is the Cardinal Grosbeak, 

 or Redbird. It is not only splendid in its colors, but in 

 its song also. It is one of the prominent birds of the 

 Middle and Southern States, and some stragglers get as 

 far north as New England. The American Goldfinch, or 

 Yelkyw-bird, one of the finest of the Finch family, lives on 

 the seeds of hemp, the sunflower, and the thistle. From 

 its fondness for the seeds of the latter it is often called 

 the Thistlefinch. This bird can be educated to do many 

 things, as drawing its drink from a glass. The Sparrows 

 are an interesting group in this family. There are many 

 species, but the two most common in this country are the 

 Song Sparrow, one of the earliest warblers of the spring, 

 and the Chipping-bird, so familiar to every one. Thei-e 

 is a brown Sparrow very much Uke the Chipping Spar- 

 row, but a more shy bird, brighter in color, and having a 

 longer tail. Jnst before migrating in the autumn to the 

 south, these birds, losing their shyness, come nearer to 

 the habitations of men, and are seen flitting about in little 

 flocks. The common Snowbird is one of the Finches. 

 This hardy and numerous species, common to both con- 

 tinents, comes from the north in flocks into the United 

 States in October and Xovember, on their way south. 

 The Bobolink, or Bicebird, as it is called as it goes 

 south, is also one of this family. 



G 



