genera, however, the conical form is less obvious, by the lateral and vertical swelling of its outline. The GROSBEAK, or HAWFINCH, Coccothraustes, (Gr. kokkos, grain; thrauō, I break,) has a beak enormously thick in proportion to its length, and in comparison with the size of the head. In this bird, and, indeed, in all the Finches, the great strength of the beak well adapts it for the uses to which it is destined, as the food of this bird consists of seeds often enclosed in woody capsules of great hardness, or the kernels of stone fruits, which must either be opened by a forcible wrench, or crushed by a strong pressure. The Finches, besides seeds, also feed on grain, and occasionally on insects.

These birds frequent fields, groves, and woodlands; numbers of them are found in gardens, building their nests in bushes. Many of them, in a state of captivity, are rendered subservient to human improvement, and become favorite domestic pets. So numerous are the genera and species of this family, it is impossible, within the limits of this volume, to give any more than the briefest notices of some of the more prominent ones.

1. We notice the WEAVERS, sub-family, Ploceinæ, (Gr. plokeus, a weaver)

These birds build their nest upon branches extending over a river or pool of water; it is shaped exactly like a chemist's retort, (Plate XI. fig 6;) and is suspended from the head; and the shank, of eight or nine inches length, at the bottom of which is the opening, almost touches the water. It is made of green grass, and curiously woven. The Weaver Birds also construct the celebrated hive-shaped nests. (See nests of the Social Weaver Birds, Plate XI. fig. 2.) The Textor, (Lat. Weaver,) erythrorhyncus, (Gr. eruthros, red; rhunchos, a beak.) The RED-BEAKED WEAVER, of South Africa, companies with Buffaloes, and obtains from their hides its supply of food. It serves these animals by ridding them of the insects with which their hides are infested, and by flying up on any alarm, it becomes to them as a sentinel, indicating the approach of danger, or of any thing unusual. This bird does not appear to attach itself to any quadruped but the Buffalo.

THE WIDOW BIRDS, or Whidah Finches, ranged by Swainson under the sub-genus Vidua, (Lat. a widow,)-have long boatshaped tails, with the two middle feathers excessively lengthened, and generally broad and convex. In Senegal and South Africa, is found the Widow Bird of the "English salesmen and fanciers,' V. paradisea, about the size of a Canary bird,—but the two feathers next to the middle tail-feathers are a foot in length from the base,

and about three-fourths of an inch in width; the two middle feathers have very broad webs on their basal half, (or extending about three inches midway,) but the remainder of the shaft becomes like a plumeless, hair-like process of the same length. The term, "widowed," is applied to this group from the sombre hue which prevails in the plumage, "suggesting the idea of widow's weeds." Among the Ploceina, Swainson places the JAVA SPARROW, Amadina, represented by the Tiaris, or Creslet, in South America, in which the thickness of the beak is enormous in proportion to its length, and the middle feathers of the tail are the longest. This bird is frequently kept as a pet in cages, living on seeds.

II. THE BUNTINGS, sub-family, Emberizida, are an interesting group of Passerine birds, differing from the Finches proper, chiefly by having a knob on the "palate," or on the under mandible, the sides of the under mandible bending inwards; their strong conical beak is well adapted for breaking the seeds which constitute their principal food.

The

THE LARK BUNTINGS, Plectrophanes, (Gr. plectron; phaino, to display,) have moderately long tarsi; the side toes of equal length; the hind toe strong, with a lengthened and nearly straight claw. There are several species of these birds, among which is the SNOW LARK BUNTING, P. nivalis, (Lat. snowy,) which appears in the Eastern part of the United States early in November, and in some parts, remaining until March. summer plumage of the Snow Bunting, is pure white and black, but it is found in all varieties of plumage. In the Highlands of Scotland, it is called the Snow Flake; in Labrador, New Foundland, and elsewhere, the White Bird; and also the White SnowBird, to distinguish it from the COMMON SNOW BIRD, Struthus, (Gr. strouthos, a sparrow;) hyemalis, (Lat. of winter.) Arctic Bird, the Lapland Snow-B.rd, or Bunting, P. Lapponicus, breeds in moist meadows, on the shores of the Arctic seas; and in the State of New York, is seen during the extreme cold of winter. Audubon observed these birds in Kentucky and Missouri. They have been seen as far North as 740 Lat.

THE BUNTINGS, Emberiza, include a large number of species. The BLACK THROATED BUNTING, E. Americana, is abundant in the Middle and Atlantic districts of the Union, but exceedingly so in the vast prairies of the West. Its simple and unmusical notes, are said to resemble those of the CORN BUNTING, of Europe, E. miliaria, (Lat. of millet.) Its length is six inches. The YELLOW WINGED BUNTING, E. passerina, (Lat. sparrow-like,) is a small bird, only four and a half inches long, which "passes, un

observed, from Mexico to Connecticut.

The individuals seem

to move off in a sulky mood, and in so concealed a way, that their winter-quarters are yet unknown." The FIELD BUNTING, E. pusilla, (Lat. very small, or weak,) breeds from Maryland to Maine. It is social and peaceable, and trills its notes like a young Canary Bird. In length it is six inches.

It

THE CHIPPING Bunting, or CHIP-BIRD, E. socialis, (Lat. social,) is known to all. It is confined to the United States and the adjacent Eastern provinces; associating with the Song Sparrow, or Finch, Fringilla melodia, and other birds of the same genus. The Chip-Bird builds its nest on some low bush and lines it with cow-hair; lays from four to five bright greenish blue eggs, spotted with brown chiefly at the larger end. seems determined to make up in quantity any defect in the quality of its notes, for it sings all the day long. It migrates to the Southern States in the winter, and is among the earliest of the Spring birds. This bird may be noticed, gleaning up crumbs from our yards, and our very doors,—it will even approach the threshold to pick up the crumbs thrown to it,-in this social characteristic, it is singular; it is distinguished by its black bill and frontlet. Its length is five and a half inches. This bird seems to represent, in America, the Common, or House Sparrow, of Europe, Pyrgita domestica; but it is less bold and crafty than the latter bird, and probably less voracious also. Buffon estimated that a pair of Sparrows will destroy about 4,000 caterpillars weekly in feeding their young; this is some compensation for the birds' devastation in granaries and barns.

THE TREE SPARROW, or CANADA BUNTING, E. Canadensis, breeds in the Fur countries. Audubon thinks it also breeds in Maine. This bird may be seen in the magnificent elms that ornament Boston ahd its adjacent villages. It is a sweet songster.

The well known SNOW BIRD, Struthus hyemalis, or Niphæa, (snowy,) hiemalis, Aud., migrates from the North, at night, as far as 300 N. L. It is common to the northern parts of the continent of Europe. This is a shy, timorous bird, and is rarely seen except in snow-storms, when it appears in flocks around dwellings. At night, it resorts to stacks of corn or hay, making there a hole for its resort in cold weather. Its nest is built on the ground; the eggs are usually four in number, of a spherical form, yellowish white, and sprinkled with reddish brown dots. Length six and a quarter inches.

THE INDIGO BUNTING, or INDIGO BIRD, Spiza, (Gr. from spizō, to chirp ;) cyanea, (sky-blue,) is one of our beautiful birds coming from the South, and appearing in New York late in May,-it is