68 
NATURAL HISTORY. [NEW BUILDING. 
Birds (PtHonorhynchus) form artificial arbours of twigs, 
(see the Case under the Shell Table opposite this Wall 
Case,) which they decorate with shell, bones, stones, and 
other articles, and through which they run in playful 
chase after each other. 
The family of Finches ( Fringillidw , Cases 68 —71) 
have short conical bills, and generally feed on seeds or 
fruits. The Weavers ( Ploceus ) build a very artificial nest. 
Some of them build together, and form as it were a large 
town in the trees. The Crossbeaks are peculiar for the 
tips of the two jaws crossing each other. The Tanagers 
( Tanagra ) are only found in America; some of them are 
very beautifully coloured ; they have the end of the beak 
slightly notched, which has caused them sometimes to be 
arranged with the dentirostral birds. The Buntings 
( Emberiza) have a narrow upper beak, furnished with a 
hard knob in the centre of the palate. The Larks ( Alauda :), 
like most of the birds which are much on the ground, have a 
long hind claw. The Bull-finches ( Loxia ) and the Gross- 
beaks ( Pyrrhulo ) vary greatly in the size and form of their 
beaks, that of the latter group being often very large and 
strong. 
The family of Plantain Eaters ( Musophagidce , Case 71) 
have many characters in common with the Finches, but. their 
feet are stronger, the outer toes being sometimes directed 
forwards. The beak is strong, toothed on the edge, and 
the nostrils are oblong, and sunk as it were iato its sub¬ 
stance. They live on fruit; building in holes in trees. 
They are only found in the tropical part of Africa. Some 
are of a large size, and have been supposed to have some 
affinity to the gallinaceous birds. The Colies ( Colius) 
are smaller, and have a long tail; they live in flocks, form¬ 
ing their nests in company, and sleeping with their heads 
downwards, closely pressed one against the other. 
The family of Hornbills ( Bnceridce , Cases 7^ and 73) 
have a very large beak, like the Toucans, but heavier, and 
varying greatly in shape, according to the age of the bird ; 
they feed on fruit, mice, small birds and reptiles. Like 
the Toucans, they -swallow their food whole, throwing 
it in the air and catching it, to facilitate their swallow¬ 
ing it. They are peculiar to the warm parts of Asia and 
Africa. 
Lastly, the Scansorial Birds (Scansores) have short 
