272 Passeres. BIRDS. Passeres. 
been found both in Java and on the continent of India, 
colouring ; in habits, also, the two birds are precisely 
has similar habits to our Barn Owl, and, like it, inhabits 
similar. Several other nearly allied species are also 
the vicinity of villages and farms. It is not, however. 
met with in Australia ; and one, the S. castnnops, which 
regarded with much favour by the natives on this 
is of considerably larger size, appears to be peculiar to 
accouirt, as they entertain various superstitious notions 
Van Diemen’s Land. 
regarding it, and in some places its appearance is con- 
THE BAY OWL {Pholidus hadius), Wowo-Wiwi, 
sidered of evil omen. Colonel Sykes, who met with 
or, Kalong-Wiwi of Java, is the last species of this 
this species in India, says that one of his specimens “was 
family, and of the order Accipitres to wliicli we shall 
captured alive, while lying on its back on the ground. 
allude. It is a rare bird in Java, residing in the darkest 
defending itself against the attacks of a body of crows.” 
forests ; and it is principally remarkable from the belief 
THE AUSTRALIAN BARN OWL {Strix delicatulus). 
entertained by the Javanese that it lives in a state of 
Although this bird is a native of Australia, where it 
the closest familiarity with the tiger, venturing even to 
is very abundant and generally distributed, it very 
alight on the back of that formidable quadruped, which, 
nearly resembles our European species in size, form, and 
lilre itself, inhabits the recesses of the forest. 
Order IL — 
PASSERES. 
The order of the Passeres or passerine birds, which 
these birds Insessores or Perchers. For this purpose 
may be regarded as including the types of the whole 
their feet are well adapted. The tarsi are of moderate 
class, is of very great extent ; and the birds composing 
length, and the feet consist of four well developed toes. 
it exhibit a vast variety both of structure and habits. 
placed, as in the preceding order, three in front and one 
Amongst the Passeres we find species almost as pre- 
behind, furnished with claws of moderate length, and 
daceous as many of the preceding order; others whose 
endowed with a sufficient grasping power to secure the 
food consists entirely of insects ; others, again, which 
bird firmly upon its perch ; whilst at the same time the 
manifest a predilection for carrion nearly as strong as 
general structure of the foot and leg is not so decidedly 
that of the Vultures ; and others which content them- 
prehensile as to prevent its readily quitting its hold. 
selves with vegetable food. Even amongst the last 
In the predaceous birds, on the contrary, the long 
there is, as may easily be supposed, a great variety ; 
grasping toes are arranged specially to enable their 
some feeding solely upon soft fruits, whilst others derive 
possessor to secure and carry off its prey ; and for 
their nourishment from the hardest seeds and nuts. 
the same purpose they are terminated by large and 
As might be expected, this want of uniformity in one of 
powerful claws. The whole organization of the hinder 
the most important conditions of life, causes a corre- 
limb is also directed to the same object, and thus the 
spending variety in the structure of those parts which 
predaceous birds, although they perch, are by no means 
are in any way concerned in the business of eating. 
at home amongst the branches, and exhibit but little 
and this even in a greater degree than could be fore- 
grace or agility in their movements upon them. 
seen from the mere differences in the nature of the food; 
Although this arrangement of the toes, three before 
for many birds of this order, which agree generally in 
and one behind, constitutes one of the principal cha- 
the nature of their nutriment, differ from each other in 
racters of the order Passeres, it must be confessed that 
their mode of obtaining it, and thus the modifications 
it is liable to certain exceptions, which render it espe- 
of the bill become almost endless. The mode of life of 
cially difficult to draw the line between this and the 
the birds also varies greatly, and by this means further 
following order. The latter is distinguished, as indi- 
modifications are introduced into the general organiza- 
cated in the table of orders — (p. 235) — by having the 
tion; so that it becomes a matter of considerable diffi- 
toes placed two in front and tvyo behind. Now 
culty to indicate the general characters by which the 
several passerine birds have the power of reversing 
present order is circumscribed. This difficulty is cer- 
one of the toes, so as to reproduce, temporarily, the 
tainly not lessened by the fact that some members of 
scansorial foot ; whilst, on the other hand, some of the 
the following order appear to differ only in a single 
scansores, such as the cuckoos, are able to turn one 
character of somewhat uncertain value from the pas- 
of the hind toes forwards. In the swifts, also, which 
serine birds ; in fact, although we have left the forms 
belong to the present order, all the toes are turned 
just alluded to amongst the Scansores, in order to 
forward. 
present the reader with a view of the classification 
The other general characters of the feet, taken in 
generally adoj)ted, it has long been our opinion that 
conjunction with the arrangement of the toes, will 
this portion of the system requires to be remodelled. 
generally enable us to determine whether or not a bird 
But we shall return to this subject hereafter. 
belongs to this order. The tarsi which, as already 
To speak in general terms, the birds belonging to 
stated, are of moderate length, are scutellated or 
the present order may be denominated Perchers par 
covered with shield-like horny plates; of these there 
excellence; that is to say, they of all birds are best 
are generally several on the anterior surface, whilst the 
adapted for a life amongst the branches of trees, as 
hinder surface is usually occupied by a single long 
they exhibit the greatest facility in perching and hop- 
shield. The whole upper surface of the toes is pro- 
ping from one branch or twig to another. Hence 
tected by series of similar but smaller and more 
Cuvier, and after him many other authors, denominated 
numerous plates ; and in most cases the only part of 
