74 
ROOM XII. at the top, having only a small hole in the sides, con- 
Nat. Hist, structed principally of moss and wood, and studded ex¬ 
ternally with Lichens. Like the rest of the Titmice, 
these birds have a numerous brood, and the young of 
this species, unlike most other birds, follow their parent 
until the ensuing spring. The Bearded Titmouse 
(Calamophilus ), which lives in fenny places, and builds 
its nest near the ground amongst reeds. 
Of the family of Chatterer ( Ampelidce ), in the same 
cases, there is but one genus found in Britain, which is 
called the Wax Wing ( Bombicilla ), because it has a 
hard appendage at the end of each of the secondaries 
of the wing, which have a great resemblance to a drop 
of sealing-wax. They chiefly feed on berries, and only 
rarely visit this country. 
The Conirostral Birds ( Conirostres ) have a strong 
conical bill. They are divided into three families. 
The family of Finches ( Fringillidce ), Cases No. 11 
and 12, have short conical bills, as they generally feed 
on seeds or fruits, as the Larks ( Alauda ), which have 
a long, straight claw. 
The Buntings ( Emberiza ), have a narrow up¬ 
per jaw, furnished with a hard knob in the centre of 
the palate. Case No. 13, the Finches (. Fringilla ), the 
Bullfinches ( Pyrrhula ), and the Cross beaks ( Loxia :). 
The family of Starlings ( Sturnidce ), Case No. 14, 
have a longer beak, somewhat like the Thrushes, but 
more conical, as the Starling ( Sturnus ), and the Pastor 
{Pastor '); they both chiefly live on insects and 
worms. 
The family of Crows ( Corvidce ), Cases Nos. 13 and 
14, are generally of a larger size, and have the base of 
their bills covered with rigid, hair-like feathers, as the 
Chough ( Fregilus ), the Crow (Corvus), the Jay (Gar- 
rulus ), Case No. 14, and the Nut-cracker ( Nuci - 
fraga). 
The third group, or the Scansorial Birds ( Scansores ), 
have short feet, fitted for climbing; they consist of three 
families. 
The 
