ALLEN’S NATURALISTS LIBRARY , . 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
PERCHING BIRDS-ORDER PASSERIFORMES. 
T 
0 this order belong the bulk of the known species of birds 
p world The characters which distinguish Passerine or 
Cr ching Birds from the rest of the Class “Aves” are principally 
natomical, and the chief ones consist of the “ segithognathous ” 
; a ate and the “ Passerine ” arrangement of the deep plantar 
te >}tlons of the foot. 
*he palate is said to be “ segithognathous,” or “ Passerine,” 
a en . tfl e vomer is broadened and blunt, or truncated, at the 
w) er , i0r en< ^’ anc ' > s not connected with the maxillo-palatines, 
Th' ’ consequently, are widely separated from each other. 
15 arrangement is well shown in the skull of the Rook, one 
our largest Passerine birds. 
kinrt ^ ee P P' antar tendons of the Passeres are of the simplest 
dio / ttle three front toes being served by the flexor perforans 
h w hile the flexor Iannis hallucis serves the hallux or 
,p to e only. 
the f t^ re are many other characters which can be adduced for 
n^n. lst ' n R u ' s hing of the Passeriformes, but the two above 
into !° ne ^ are f * le most important. The order is divided 
R rp. Ur g rea t sections, viz., A, Oscines, or Singing Passeres ; 
ph 0n 'gomyodse, or Non-singing Passeres ; C, Tracheo- 
Anc.J 6 ,’. or South American Passeres ; D, Atrichornithes, 
Of S cru b-birds. 
R e gj o hese only Oscines are represented in the Palasarctic 
i of which Great Britain forms part, and it is with the 
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