NATURAL HISTORY. 
63 
ROOM XII.] 
But one genus of the family of the Chatterers ( Ampe - 
lidce ), (same Cases,) is found in Britain ; it is called 
the Wax Wing (Bombycilia), because it has a hard ap¬ 
pendage 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 Finches 
(Fringillidce ), Cases Nos. 11 and 12, have short conical 
bills, and generally feed on seeds or fruits, as the Larks 
(Alauda ), which have a long, straight claw. 
The Buntings ( Emberiza ), have a narrow upper 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 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 live principally on insects and worms. 
The Crows {Corvidae), Cases Nos. 13 and 14, are gene¬ 
rally 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 ( Garrulus ), Case 
No. 14, and the Nut-cracker ( Nucifraga ). 
The third group, or the Scansorial Birds ( Scansores ),. 
have short feet, fitted for climbing; they consist of three 
families. 
The Woodpeckers ( Picidce ), Case No. 15, have a straight 
robust bill, and the toes placed in pairs, two before and 
two behind; as the Woodpecker (Pious), and the Wry¬ 
neck ( Yunx ). 
The Creepers ( Certhiadce), in the same Case, on the 
contrary, have the toes placed as in the majority of perch¬ 
ing birds, and a slender bill; as the Creeper (Certhid), 
Wren ( Troglodytes ), the Hoopoe (Upupa), and the Nut¬ 
hatch ( Sitta ). 
The family of Cuckoos (Cuculidce), in this Case, have 
the same kind of feet as the Woodpeckers, but the bill is 
more or less curved; as the Cuckoo (Cuculus), and the 
Coccyzus. 
Lastly. The Fissirostral Birds (Fissikostres), in 
