268 AVES. 



Fam. Sylviidae. Small Oscmes, with thin and pointed beak and metatarsus 

 covered with scales in front. Sylvia nisoria Bechst., Barred Warbler; S. 

 atricapilla Lath., Blackcap ; Pliyllopneuste hypolais Bechst. ; Troglodytes 

 parvulus Koch, Wren ; Regitlus cristatus Koch ; R. ignicapillus Naum., Fire- 

 crested Wren. 



Fam. Turdidse. Thrushes. The beak is tolerably long, somewhat compressed, 

 and slightly notched before the point, and furnished with vibrissse at its base. 

 The metatarsus is long, and covered with an anterior and two lateral scales, 

 laminiplantar. Cinclus aquaticus Bechst., Dipper ; Luscinia pMlomela Bechst., 

 Thrush Nightingale, large nightingale in East Europe ; L. luscinia L., Night- 

 ingale ; L. suecica L., Blue-throat ; L. rubicula L., Robin ; Iktrdus pilaris L., 

 Fieldfare ; T. musious L.,.Thrush ; T. ilwcus'L., Redwing ; T. torquatus L., Ring- 

 ouzel ; T. merula L., Blackbird ; T. saxatilis L., Rock Thrush ; T. migratorius 

 L., American Robin ; T. cyanus L., Blue Thrush. The Lyre-bird (Menura 

 superba, Dav.) a large bird found in New Holland is allied to the Thrushes 

 in the form of its beak. 



Tribe 5. Conirostres. Oscines of small size, with thick head and 

 powerful, conical beak, with short neck, wings of medium length and 

 ambulatory feet (p. ambulatorii). The metatarsus is short, and is 

 covered with scales in front. They feed on corn and seeds, berries 

 and fruits, but do not despise insects. 



Fam. Alaudidse. Larks. The plumage is earth-coloured ; the beak is of 

 medium length, the wings broad and long, and the tail short. Alauda arvensis 

 L., Skylark; A. arborea L., Woodlark ; A. cristata L., Crested Lark; A. 

 alpestris L., Shore Lark ; A. calandra, Calandra Lark, South Europe. 



Fam. Fringillidse. Finches. With short, thick, conical beak, without notch, 

 but with a basal swelling. Eniberiza citrinella L., Yellow Bunting ; E. cia L., 

 Meadow Bunting ; E. nivalis L., Snow Bunting ; Fringilla ccelebs L., Chaffinch ; 

 F. splnus L., Siskin ; F. carduelis L., Goldfinch ; Passer domesticus L., House- 

 sparrow ; P. montanus L., Tree-sparrow ; Coccotliraustes vulgaris Pall., Haw- 

 finch ; Pyrrhula vulgaris Briss., Bullfinch ; P. canaria L., Canary ; Loxia 

 curvirostra Gm., Crossbill. 



Fam. Ploceidse. Weaver-birds. Build purse-shaped nests. Live in Africa, 

 East India, and Australia. Plocevs textor Gray ; PI. soclus Gray. 



Order 7. RAPTATORES (BIRDS OF PREY). 



Powerfully-built birds, with curved beak, hooked at the extremity, 

 and strongly clawed feet (p. insidentes). They feed principally on 

 warm-blooded animals. 



The Eaptatores are characterised by their powerful build, by the 

 high development of their sense organs, and by the special develop- 

 ment of their beak and of the armature of the feet, by which they 

 are fitted for their peculiar mode of existence. The compressed root 

 of the beak is covered by a soft cere, which surrounds the nasal 

 apertures. The cutting edges, and the hooked and downwardly- 



