62 
NATURAL HISTORY. [jJPPER FLOOR. 
according to the form of the bill, each division containing 
several families and genera. 
The first division comprehends the Toothed Billed Birds 
(Dentirostres), which, like the Noble Birds of Prey, 
have a notch on each side of the tip of the upper mandible. 
Their gape is often armed with bristles. They generally 
live on insects, worms, &c. 
The family of Butcher Birds ( Laniadce ), have a strong 
compressed bill; this family contains but one genus {La- 
nius); they are the most carnivorous of the family, for the 
larger species frequently kill small or weak birds, and 
sticking them on thorns, pull them to pieces. 
The Fly-Catchers ( Muscicapidce ), are known at first 
sight by their broad depressed beaks, and the strong bristles 
on each side of the gape, as the genus Muscicapa. These 
birds live on insects, which they generally catch on the wing. 
The Thrushes ( Merulldce ) have rather strong slender 
beaks, as the Dipper, or Water Ouzel ( Cinclus ), Case No. 
10, which chiefly lives on the banks of rapid rivers in 
mountainous parts of the country, where they may be often 
seen flying down and diving under the stream in search of 
their food. The Thrushes ( Turdus ) are in the same Case, 
and the Oriole ( Oriolus ) ; the latter, which are peculiar for 
the brilliant golden colour of their plumage, are only occa¬ 
sional visitants to this country. 
The family of Warblers {Sylviadce), Cases Nos. 11 and 
12, have rather long but slender, weak bills. This family 
contains many genera and sub-genera, as the Accentor 
(. Accentor ), the Warblers {Sylvia), the Dartford 'Warbler 
( Melizophilus ), the Crested Wrens {Regulus), and the 
Wagtails {Motacilla); the Pipits ( Ant/ius ), which have 
much the appearance of Larks, but a more slender bill, 
and live chiefly on insects, like the rest of this family; 
the Wheat Ears ( Saxicola ), and Titmice (. Parus ), amongst 
which is to be seen the Long-tailed Titmouse, or as it 
is commonly called, the Bottle Tit, because it' forms a 
beautiful oval nest, arched over at the top, and having 
only a small hole in the sides; it is constructed principally 
of moss and wool, and studded externally 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 
