NATURAL HISTORIC. 
63 
ROOM XII.] 
But one genus of the family of the Chatterers (Arnpe-- 
lidcB), (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-waXo 
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 (Lojcia). 
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 {Corvidce), 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 {Picus), 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 (Fissirostres), in 
