46 ORDER OF PASSERINE. 



Q7. The owls of the genera Noctua and Scop3, have the open- 

 ing of the ear larger than ordinary birds, and the disk of feathers 

 around the eyes smaller and less complete than in all the pre- 

 ceding owls. These characters coincide with the peculiarities of 

 their habits, which bring them near to the diurnal birds of prey. 

 In fact, many owls see sufficiently well in the day to distinguish 

 and pursue their prey. The Scops have the heads furnished with 

 tufts. There is one species found in France, whose plumage is 

 ash colour, spotted black. 



LESSON IV. 



Order of Passerin^e. — Zoological Characters, — Habits. — Divi- 

 sion into Jive families. 



Family of Dentirostres. — Shrikes. — flycatchers. — Cotingas. — 

 Blackbirds, — Thrushes, — Water-thrushes. — Orioles. — Lyres. 

 — Warblers, (such as the Nightingales^ Linnets, and Wrens.) 



Family of Fissirostres. — (Su;a//ou-s) — Habits. — {Swallow, pro- 

 perly so called, Martin.) — Goatsuckers. — Habits, 



Family of Connirostres. — Larks. — Titmouse. — Buntings.— 

 Sparrows. — Crows, {Crow properly so called, Jackdaw, Mag- 

 pie, Jay.) — Birds of Paradise. 



ORDER OF PASSERINE. 



1. This order includes all birds that are neither swimmers, 

 waders, climbers, rapaceous, nor gallinaceous ; that is, it contains 

 all birds that are not assigned to the other five orders ; we find its 

 characteristics, therefore, are purely negative ; yet, although we can- 

 not unite all the species that belong to it under a common descrip- 

 tion, they nevertheless naturally resemble each other in the totality 

 or assemblage of their organization. The Passerinae have neither 

 the violence of the birds of prey, nor the fixed regimen of the 

 gallinaceous or aquatic birds ; insects, fruits and grains consti- 

 tute their food, which consists more exclusively of grain, in pro- 

 portion to the largeness of their beak, and more exclusively of in- 

 sects as it is more slender; and those that have strong beaks pursue 



67. How are the genera of Noctua and Scops characterised ? Are all 

 Owls incapable of seeing in the daylight ? 



1. What are the characters which distinguish the Passerinae from other 

 orders of birds? Upon what do they feed? What is the number and 

 arrangement of their toes ? 



