198 
BIRD-LIFE. 
(Gardinalis virginianus) and Tanagers {Tomagra) , links 
between granivorous birds and Warblers; the singular 
Bunting Finches ( Passerella ); some members of the 
Starling family (Icterus), which supply the place of our 
familiar species. America shows its peculiarity in its 
Kites (Nauclerus, Ictinia ); one Caracara (Polyborus); 
one big Yulture (Sarcoramphus californianus) ; and two 
other Vultures (Gathartes aura and Coragyps atratus ); the 
Prairie Owl (Pholeoptynx hypogcea ) ; Purple Martin (Progne 
purpurea ); several Tyrant Flycatchers ; and the Mocking¬ 
bird (Mimus polyglottus ); as well as its giant Woodpeckers 
(Gampephilus imperialis and C. principalis). America has 
her Humming-birds; her peculiar Cuckoos (Coccygus ) : she 
has, too, special Pigeons, amongst which we must mention 
the Migratory Pigeon first of all, because it may be con¬ 
sidered as the most remarkable bird on the whole continent. 
Vogel calls it the “ herring of the air,” and the com¬ 
parison, although incomplete, as all comparisons generally 
are, is by no means inaptly chosen, for, probably, no 
other bird flocks together in such myriads as it does. Of 
the remaining birds of this part of America, I will only 
make mention of two others, the Canadian Goose 
( Cygnopsis canadensis) and the Summer Teal (Aix sponsa), 
principally for this reason, that both are found acclima¬ 
tized with us in Europe. 
North America is incomparably poorer than South 
America. It is only on reaching the Southern Hemi¬ 
sphere that we first enter the “truly New World;” for 
it is here that we first meet with all the wonders of the 
tropics. Here the gigantic and the wonderful are to be 
found alongside of the magnificent and the beautiful. 
Flowers take the form of butterflies; while butterflies 
and bees resemble birds. In richness of colouring and 
