XXVI SIRDS. 



ORDER III. PASSERINE. 



BILL conic-acuminated. 



Feet salient, slender, eleven. 



Body tender. — In those which are granivorous the flesli is pure — in others, feeding on 

 insects, impure. 



Food obtained from trees, as seeds, or insects. 



Nest curiously constructed. — The food put into the mouth of the young by the parents. 

 Monogamous. — Many of these are songsters. 



ORDER IV. COLUMBINE. 



BILL rather strait, swelling at the base. 

 Feet formed for walking, short. Nails simple. 

 Body plump. Flesh savoury. 

 Food grass, fruits, and seeds, swallowed whole. 

 Nest ill constructed, placed in trees, hollows of rocks, &c. 



Eggs two in number. The mother feeds the young with grain, made soft in the crop, 

 and ejected into their mouths. — Monogamous. 



ORDER V. GALLINxiCEOUS. 



BILL convex, the upper mandible arched over the lower, having a convex cartilaginous 

 membrane over the nostrils. 



Feet made for walking. Toes rough beneath; 



Body plump and muscular. Flesh savoury. 



Food, grain of all kinds, collected from the ground, and macerated in the crop. 



Nest made on the bare ground, without art. Eggs numerous. The young, as soon as 

 hatched, take of themselves the food pointed out to thein by the parents. — Polygamous. 



ORDER VI. STRUTHIOUS. 



BILL subconic, strait, tip various. 



Body shapeless, ponderous, scarcely edible. 



Wings small, useless for flight, or none visible. 



Feet made for running', strong. Toes various in number. 



Food grain and vegetables. 



Nest on the ground. — Monogamous. 



