CHAPTER XVI 
THE ORDER OF PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
PASSERES 
This Order is the highest in the scale of birds, and it is by far the largest of the whole nineteen 
Orders. In the zone of agriculture it contains the birds which are of the greatest importance 
to mankind, the insect-eaters. It also contains all the real song-birds of the world, and its North 
American Families are as shown below: 
ORDER 
PASSERES. 
FAMILIES. 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 
Thrushes, . . 
TVR'DI-DAE, . . 
Kinglets, . . 
SYL-VI'I-DAE, . . 
Nuthatches, . 
PA'RI-DAE, . . . 
Tree-Creepers, 
CER-T HI' I-DAE, 
Dippers, . . . 
CIN'CLI-DAE, . . 
Wrens, . . . 
TRO-GLO-D Y' TI-DA E, 
Wagtails, . . 
MO T-A-CIL' LI -DA E, 
Warblers, . . 
MNI-O-TIU TI-DAE, 
Vireos, . . . 
VI-RE-ON' I-DAE, . 
Shrikes, . . . 
LAN-EI-DAE, . . 
Waxwings, . . 
AM-PEL'I-DAE, . . 
Swallows, . . 
HI' RUN-DIN' I-DAE, 
Tanagers, . . 
TAN-A-GRP DAE, . 
Finches, . . 
FRIN-GIL' LI-DAE, 
Blackbirds, 
IC-TER’ I-DAE, . . 
Crows, . . . 
COR’Vl-PAE, . . 
Horned Larks, 
A-LA V Dl-DAE, 
Flycatchers, . 
TY-RAN'NI-DAE, . 
EXAMPLES. 
Robin, Thrush, Bluebird. 
Kinglet and Gnatcatcher. 
Nuthatch, Chickadee, Titmouse. 
Brown Creeper. 
Water-Ouzel. 
Wren, Cat-Bird, Mocking-Bird, Thrasher. 
Wagtail and Pipit. 
Warbler, Water-Thrush, Redstart, Chat. 
Red-Eyed Vireo. 
Butcher-Bird and Loggerhead Shrike. 
Bohemian Waxwing, Cedar- Bird. 
Swallow and Martin. 
Scarlet Tanager. 
Sparrow, Finch, Grosbeak, Cardinal, 
Snow-Bunting, Redpoll. 
Blackbird, Oriole, Meadow-Lark, Bobo- 
link. 
Crow, Raven, Jay, Nut-Cracker. 
Horned Lark. 
Flycatcher, Pewee, Phoebe, Kingbird. 
The majority of perchers are birds of plain 
feather, quite as if Nature had intended that 
these, the best friends of the farmer and fruit- 
grower, should be the last to be destroyed by 
the merciless Man-With-a-Gun. 
It will be a sad day for the American farmer 
when the last insect-eating bird of our country 
is brought fluttering and lifeless to the ground. 
When the armies of destroying insects begin to 
multiply unchecked, and send forth their mill- 
ions and tens of millions, then will the husband- 
man realize the value of the allies he has lost, 
and vainly wish to exchange any number of 
grapes and cherries for the once-despised robin, 
thrush and blackbird. 
Quite apart from their cash value to the agri- 
culturist, it is the song-birds that appeal most 
strongly to the ear and heart of man. Even the 
exquisite plumage of the resplendent trogon, 
most beautiful of all American birds, does not 
thrill the soul as does the song of the robin, the 
brown thrasher and the mocking-bird. Next to 
sunshine and green verdure, the most cheering 
thing in Nature is the song of a bird. At this 
moment (early spring) a robin, in the big ma- 
ple in front of my windows, is pouring forth a 
song that is at once restful and inspiring. It re- 
minds me that we who live in the temperate zone 
are greatly favored by the presence in our bird- 
life of the sweetest singers in the world. Shall 
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