The BLUE-STRIPED LORY (_Lorius cyanostriatus_), which we have selected
as the subject of one of our coloured illustrations (Plate III.), may be
regarded as the type of the beautiful race to which it belongs. Its small
size, and comparatively feeble beak, the elevation of the tarsi, and the
diminutive claws, are eminently characteristic, as also is the somewhat
wedge-shaped tail. The prevailing colour of this species, like that of
the Lories generally, is a brilliant crimson, which pervades the entire
plumage, but is much relieved and set off by dark shadings of deep red,
almost approaching blackness, which cover the hinder part of the back,
overspread the extremities of the wings and tail, and vary the tints of
the wing-covers, producing a very rich appearance, which is still further
heightened by a row of feathers of ultramarine, wherewith the hinder part
of the neck is ornamented as with a sort of cape. The eyes are surrounded
by elongated patches of naked flesh-coloured skin, immediately behind
which the ear-feathers, of a brilliant ultramarine blue, are rendered
very conspicuous.
[Illustration]
PASSERINE BIRDS (_Passeres_).
The Passerine order we understand to include the FINCHES and their
nearest relations, as also the Sparrows, and other families of similar
structure. These birds have been usually grouped together under the
name of CONIROSTRES, but as the adoption of this term would oblige us
to include the RAVENS (_Coracirostres_), we shall avoid it, considering
that the many peculiarities of the latter entitle them to be regarded as
forming an order by themselves.
The PASSERES, according to our definition, are rather small birds, the
largest among them not exceeding the size of a Starling. Their shape is
compact, the body strong, the neck short, the head thick, and the wings
of moderate length, with nine or ten quills upon the primary, and the
same number upon the secondary region of the wing. The tail is generally
long, and contains twelve feathers; the foot small, and what is termed
a _perching_ foot, three of the toes being in front and one behind.
The beak is thick and usually conical, occasionally hooked, and still
more rarely crossed. The plumage is generally thick, and the feathers
comparatively large and soft; their colouring is usually quiet; but this
is by no means invariably the case; all are, however, devoid of metallic
lustre, or possess it in a very trifling degree. There is a difference
observable between the male and female, not always dependent on the
plumage, the male being the finer bird; the young resemble the mother.
Many species moult twice in the year, so that at certain times their
plumage exhibits a more brilliant appearance than at others, owing to the
rubbing off of the outer edge of the feathers. The internal structure
of the body presents nothing unusual. Although the Passerine Birds are
unquestionably far below the parrots in capacity, they are intelligent,
acute, susceptible of being taught, and keen of perception.
Their flight is not so rapid as that of the smaller parrots, and consists
of a succession of undulating movements, which change into a hovering
motion when the birds are excited or about to alight. They can walk upon
the ground, but generally hop; and though the latter mode of progression
gives an air of awkwardness to some species, it contrasts favourably with
the waddling gait of the parrots. Many species are able to hop nimbly
among the twigs and branches of trees, but few can climb, and still fewer
possess the peculiar clinging powers of the woodpecker and other really
climbing birds. They prefer the neighbourhood of water, but none of them
are capable of swimming or diving.
The Passerine Birds are citizens of the world; they can endure the
climate of icy mountains and northern snows, and are met with in the
glowing regions of the tropics. Hills and valleys, woods or fields,
the reed-covered swamps or treeless plains, are equally tenanted by
various races, as is the crowded city or the barren desert. In all
these localities they will build their nests and educate their young.
Turn where we will, we see them--indeed, they are as much a part of
the landscape as the earth and sky. Notwithstanding the fondness they
exhibit for wooded countries, we can by no means venture to call them
_tree_-birds, as many species live exclusively upon the ground, and
all frequent it more constantly than even the parrots. Open country
near a wood is their favourite resort, and from thence they visit the
surrounding gardens and brushwood. They are found but in small numbers
either in deep forests, or on barren plains and mountains. Seeds, fruits,
birds, and insects form their usual nourishment, and but few appear to be
dainty in their selection. The Passeres are, almost without exception, of
a social disposition, and solitary birds are seldom seen; they live in
pairs during the breeding season, and keep together in parties throughout
the remainder of the year, these parties occasionally increasing until
they become large flocks. It is usual to find several different species
living together in this manner, and associating for many months; the
cleverest become the leaders of the rest, and are obeyed, perhaps we
should say imitated, by their little followers. Such are the flocks that
settle on our fields in autumn, after they have reared their young and
moulted their feathers. In the winter they generally establish themselves
in our farmyards and streets. Many species leave their homes annually,
and go southwards at the commencement of the winter; others only wander
or take occasional journeys, whilst some are stationary. Our part of the
world yearly receives a large number of guests from colder latitudes, in
exchange for the native birds that have left us to winter farther south.
During very severe weather, we are often visited by species from the far
north, that perhaps have not been amongst us for years, driven from their
home by a deficiency of the food that they generally find in their own
country. Some amongst them seem to pay so little regard to the change
of season that they will breed at any time of the year, and will carry
on the work of incubation exposed to the icy cold of a northern winter,
or the exhausting heat of the tropics. For the most part, however, they
recognise the arrival of spring, and, like the poets, are inspired with
their tenderest feelings during the month of May. At that season the
large flocks have dispersed, and each pair is intent upon the duties
inseparable from incubation to a degree that is seldom equalled by other
birds. Their beaks are then as frequently employed in doing battle with
jealous rivals, as in pouring out their songs of joy; their days are
divided between singing and fighting; they eat with haste, exhibiting the
greatest excitement in all they do. Each pair seeks a separate spot for
its own nest, driving away all other birds, so that breeding settlements,
such as we have elsewhere described, are rarely seen amongst them. The
nests of the Passeres are of different forms, and exhibit very various
degrees of skill in their construction. Sometimes they may be seen
hanging from, or placed upon, waving twigs or thick branches; sometimes
they are hidden among the foliage, or in holes of trees or fissures of
rocks, and they may often be found concealed under bushes, among reeds,
corn, grass, and even upon the ground. Their exterior is carefully
formed of twigs, grass, hay, lichens, moss, plant-cotton, and such like
materials, and is lined with softer fibres, moss, scraps of wool, hair,
and feathers. The brood commonly consists of from three to eight eggs of
various shape and colour, usually light blue or green, or yellowish grey,
with markings of various kinds. In most cases only the female sits upon
the eggs, and during the period of incubation she is fed by her mate, but
sometimes the two sexes share this duty and sit in turn, appearing to
rival each other in taking care of their little family. The young early
attain their full growth, and seldom need the attention of the parents
after they have left the nest, as they soon learn to seek their own food
and associate together in flocks, flying about over a limited extent of
country until the season for moulting arrives. The parents meanwhile
rear another brood, sitting sometimes thrice in the year, whilst others
breed but once in the twelve months. Many enemies pursue these small
and feeble creatures--indeed, some falcons feed entirely upon them;
those and their nightly pursuers, the owls, must be considered as their
most formidable foes, though monkeys, lemurs, cats, weasels, bears, and
shrew-mice, the tree-frequenting rodents, and some kinds of snakes, are
dangerous enemies; indeed, man himself cannot always be numbered among
their friends. On the whole, the damage done by Passerine birds is not
very serious, and some of them are inexpressibly useful by reason of
the enormous quantities of insects and seeds of noxious plants which
they devour; still, there is no denying that many species become very
troublesome, especially when they congregate in large flocks, and descend
upon ripe corn or fruit-trees, and we readily acknowledge that it cannot
be agreeable to have to entertain hundreds of thousands of these little
destroyers for weeks together.
* * * * *
Amongst the very numerous Passerine races, we find some that might be
called the PARROT-FINCHES, for the same reason that we call the little
"Love Birds" SPARROW PARROTS; indeed, the resemblance they bear to the
parrots is very striking, as is seen not only in the contour of their
body, but in its structure, as well as in their demeanour and peculiar
habits. Such, for example, are--
[Illustration: THE LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL (_Loxia pityopsittacus_).]
* * * * *
The CROSS-BILLS (_Loxiæ_), which, although but few species are known,
may be said to form a separate family. They not only differ from other
Passeres, but from all other birds, in the formation of their beak. This
very remarkable instrument is thick and strongly arched, its ridge or
culmen is high and rounded, the mandibles are broad at their origin, but
suddenly separate, and terminate in sharp points that are bent across
each other, the under-jaw being inclined sometimes to the right side,
sometimes to the left, without any general rule being observable in this
respect; there are, indeed, as many that have their beaks twisted to the
right as in the opposite direction. It is, moreover, specially noticeable
that the muscles moving the lower jaw are unequally developed on the two
sides of the head, an arrangement which must be considered as a necessary
consequence of the sidelong movements of the jaw. The head is large in
comparison with that of other finches, the body short, but slender and
high; the keel of the breast-bone is long and arched, resembling that
of the woodpeckers. The plumage is thick and soft, the wings of middle
length, narrow, and pointed; the tail-feathers strong, narrow, and short,
those at the side being considerably longer than those in the middle. The
tarsi and bones of the leg are bowed inwards, and are short and strong;
the toes long, with stout, curved, pointed claws. The eyes are small and
prominent; the nostrils round, placed close to the forehead, and almost
or entirely covered with hair-like feathers. The internal construction of
the body does not differ from that of other birds of this order.
Like most other species belonging to the Passeres, the Cross-bills live
in society, seldom leaving the woods, wherein they find fir-trees adapted
to their support. They cannot be said to have any fixed residence,
but are the gipsies of the feathered race; their home is anywhere and
nowhere. It is by no means easy to discriminate between the different
species of these birds, seeing that every extensive collection shows
us many varieties, strongly resembling each other. We may, however,
safely mention four different species belonging to Europe, and in the
mountainous districts of Asia and America we also find about that number;
all these, however, present not only the same general structure, but a
similar colouring of the feathers. The plumage of the old male bird is of
a beautiful vermilion or red-currant tint, while that of the young male
is of either a reddish yellow, gold, greenish gold, or red chalk colour.
The coat of the female is green, shaded into yellow or grey. The plumage
of the birds before moulting is a light grey, streaked with a darker
shade; the wings and tail-feathers are of a greyish black. The large head
and strong beak, bulky feet, and short tail, make them appear very stout
and clumsy, nevertheless they are really agile and rapid, flying quickly
and lightly, hovering before they perch, climbing nimbly about among the
branches, and are only awkward and out of place upon the ground.