NATURAL HISTORY. 
ROOM XII.] 
63 
But one genus of the family of the Chatterers ( Ampc - 
Udcc), (same Cases,) is found in Britain ; it is called 
the Wax Wing ( Bombycilla ), 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 
(Pyrrhulci), 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 ( Nucifragci ). 
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 (Picas), 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 ( Certhia ), 
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 (Fissxrostres), in 
