CONIROSTRES. 
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deep black ; forehead and under parts pure white, 
also the scapular feathers. In a native specimen 
before us, the tail is entirely black, except the 
basal half of the outer web of the outer feather, 
which just marks the coloured portion of the 
tails of several of these birds and allied genera. 
During winter, the plumage, where black, changes 
to brown or blackish gray. In the female, the 
frontal white band is not so distinct, and the 
upper dark parts are blackish gray. 
CONIROSTRES. 
We have now reached the second great “ tribe” 
or division of the perching birds, the Conirostres. 
It is composed of a great variety of forms, and 
according to Mr Swainson's views, exhibits a 
series of birds having the highest degree of 
organization in all their parts collectively, and 
they are considered as shewing the typical form 
among the Incessores, and consequently among 
the entire Class “ Birds.” We shall enter only 
into the description of those genera which are 
natives of the British Islands ; for it would be 
impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to point 
out the interlacing of the whole, without greatly 
overstepping our limits. Suffice it to say, that the 
bill, as indicated by the title, is somewhat conical 
in form in all the genera, that they are mostly 
omnivorous, and all perch or walk with nearly 
equal facility. In size they are extremely variable. 
The first family to be noticed is that of the 
