COCKS OF THE ROCK.— SWALT.OWS. 



31. The Common Titlark, — ^nthus pratertsis, or Alauda pra- 

 tensis, — frequents humid prairies and becomes extremely fat in 

 the autumn ; in many parts of France it is then sought, and is 

 known under the name of Bec-figue, — hecca-fica. 



32. The Cocks op the Rock, — Rupicola, — are distinguished 

 from all the preceding species of the family of Dentirostres, by 

 having the two external toes, united for about one third of their 

 length from the base. The two American species, when full 

 grown, are of a beautiful orange colour, and have a double ver- 

 tical crest on the head, formed of feathers arranged like a fan. 

 They are found in the warm parts of South America. 



FAMILY OF FISSIROSTRES. 



33. The Fissirostres are distinguished by their beak, which is 

 short, wide, horizontally flattened, slightly hooked, without a 

 notch, and very deeply cleft, that is, the commissure, or line of 

 junction between the two mandibles, is extended so that the 

 opening of the mouth is very wide, and they easily swallow the 

 insects they pursue on the wing. All these birds are exclusively 

 insectivorous; they are also migratory, and migrate. in the tem- 

 perate zones. Their flight is the most extended of all terrestrial 

 birds ; they are found in all parts of the world. 



34. This family is divided into two tribes, namely : 



35. First. The Diurnal Fissirostres, with a dense plumage, 

 and a beak that opens to beneath the eyes. 



36. Second. The Nocturnal Fissirostres, the plumage of 

 which is soft and light like that of the owls, and their beak opens 

 to a point beyond the eyes. 



37. The Diurnal Fissirostres constitute the Genus of Swallows, 

 — Hirundo, — all of which are remarkable for the length of their 

 wings; this genus is sub-divided into swallows properly so called, 

 and Swifts; the latter have a remarkable conformation of the 

 claws ; the thumb is directed forward almost like the other toes 

 which are all separate, and each one has but three phalanges; 

 while in the swallows properly so called the thumb is inserted 

 behind the tarsus, and preserves the same direction as in the 



31. What are the habits of the Common Lark ? 



32. How are Cocks of the Rock characterised ? 



33. What are the distinguishing characters of the Fistirostrcs ? What 

 are their habits? 



34. Into how many tribes is the family of Fissirostrefi divided? 



35. How are the Diurnal Fissirostres characterised? 



36. How are the Nocturnal Fissirostres distinguished from the Diurnal ? 



37. How are Swifts and Swallows properly so called, distinguished from 

 each other ? 



