commonly hardy birds, and their distribution is almost universal, some species of them being found in all parts of the globe where animals can live. They are characterized by short and thick beaks, and the two mandibles fit each other so well that, when they are together, the beak looks like a short cone, with a mere slit from the point to the base, as seen in Fig. 116. The great strength seen in the beaks of these birds is needed in opening the woody capsules covering the seeds which constitute a portion of their food. 239. I can notice but a few of this family. There are many of the Grosbeaks in this country, but the most beautiful and famous of them is the Cardinal Grosbeak, or Redbird. It is not only splendid in its colors, but in its song also. It is one of the prominent birds of the Middle and Southern States, and some stragglers get as far north as New England. The American Goldfinch, or Yellow-bird, one of the finest of the Finch family, lives on the seeds of hemp, the sunflower, and the thistle. From its fondness for the seeds of the latter it is often called the Thistlefinch. This bird can be educated to do many things, as drawing its drink from a glass. The Sparrows are an interesting group in this family. There are many species, but the two most common in this country are the Song Sparrow, one of the earliest warblers of the spring, and the Chipping-bird, so familiar to every one. There is a brown Sparrow very much like the Chipping Sparrow, but a more shy bird, brighter in color, and having a longer tail. Just before migrating in the autumn to the south, these birds, losing their shyness, come nearer to the habitations of men, and are seen flitting about in little flocks. The common Snowbird is one of the Finches. This hardy and numerous species, common to both continents, comes from the north in flocks into the United States in October and November, on their way south. The Bobolink, or Ricebird, as it is called as it goes. south, is also one of this family. 240. The birds of the Crow family are among the largest of the Perchers. They are bold but crafty birds, showing considerable intelligence, and, when domesticated, have powers of imitation similar to those of the Parrot. They live in societies. The largest of the family is the Raven, well known in a great range of climate in both hemispheres. It has a solemn look, and has always been deemed a bird of ill omen. The Rook, so common in England, is nearly like the common Crow of this country. Of both it may be said that the good which they do in destroying grubs, which are injurious to vegetation, more than compensates for the harm which they do in pulling up the young corn or potato cuttings. The Jays are of the Crow family. The most beautiful of these is the Blue Jay of this country. This bird has a great antipathy to Owls, and when it discovers one, it rouses, by its boisterous vociferations, a noisy troop of birds of various kinds. The Owl receives all this with a quiet gravity, and, watching his opportunity, at length, on noiseless wing, slips away from his annoying company. 241. The birds of the Starling family are in form and habits quite like the Crow family, but are much smaller. The Meadow Lark of this country is one of them. The Baltimore Oriole, one of a numerous group in this family, is a very interesting and beautiful bird. It is called by various names: the Golden Oriole, Golden Robin, Firebird, and Fire Hangbird. Of this last name the first part was suggested by its bright orange color flashing in the light, and the latter part comes from its hanging nest, which is woven from hemp or flax. To this family belongs that singular bird of Australia, the Bower-bird, Fig. 119 (p. 145). This bird builds a bower of twigs, interwoven so as to meet above, forming a sort of tunnel. The entrance to this is decorated with any brilliant article that the bird can find, as shells and feathers. No other use has been discovered for this bower but that of a play-ground, the birds being seen to run through and Fig 119.-Bower-bird. around it in a sport ive manner. 242. The bills of the Birds of Paradise are so long and slender that some naturalists have placed this family among the Tenuirostres. They are confined to New Guinea and the neighboring islands. They are distinguished for their remarkable plumes, which are of different kinds in the various species, usually consisting of Fig. 120.-Bird of Paradise. feathers prolonged from the shoulder-tufts or from the tail. In the species in Fig. 120 (p. 145) there is a most brilliant display of colors. The body, breast, and lower parts are of a deep rich brown; the front set close with black feathers shot with green; the throat is of a rich golden green; the head yellow; the sides of the tail have a long, full, splendid plume of downy feathers of a soft yellow color. The poetical story that this bird lives on dew, is, of course, false, and its food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, together with seeds and figs. 243. The Cross-bill family are distinguished by the crossing of the points of the beak, as seen in Fig. 121, Fig. 121.-Cross-bill. and a horny scoop at the tip of the tongue. The bird uses these tools in obtaining the seeds of the fir and pine cones, on which it lives. The process is this: the points of the closed beak are insinuated beneath the scales of the cone, and then, by a sidewise motion of the mandibles, separating the points farther from each other, the scale is raised, so as to allow the horny scoop of the tongue to dislodge the seed and carry it into the mouth. It can also, with its powerful beak, extract kernels from hard shells. It will cut an apple in two to get at the pips. When confined in a cage, it very dexterously draws the ends of the wires from the wood-work, and soon sets itself free. There are three species of Crossbills in this country. 244. The Horn-bill family are remarkable for the very large size of the beak, and for an extraordinary protuberance with which it is surmounted, as seen in the Rhinoceros Horn-bill, Fig. 122 (p. 147). This enormous bill, Fig. 122.-Rhinoceros Horn-bill. with its appendage, is not as heavy as it appears, for its structure is of a light, honeycomb character. The upper protuberance is hollow, and it is supposed that it serves as a sort of sounding-board, to give by its reverberations force to the roaring cry of the bird. There are several species found in India and Africa. 245. Of the division of the Perchers called Dentirostres, or Tooth-billed, there are five families: the Shrikes, or Butcher-birds, Warblers, Thrushes, Fly-catchers, and Chatterers or Waxwings. The notch in the upper mandible which makes the tooth-like projection, § 234, is not always deep, and is sometimes wanting. In such a case the proper place of the bird in the classification is known by its resemblance in other respects to the true toothbilled species. There are some, indeed, whose characteristics are so intermediate between the Conirostres and the Dentirostres, that zoologists differ as to the |