shaped upper mandible is articulated, very moveable, and serves the purpose of a third foot in climbing. Why is the Guinea parrot, in French, called 'l'inséparable'? Because it has been said, but untruly, that they must always be kept in pairs, a single one not surviving the loss of its mate. Why are many families of parrots found only in districts of very limited extent? Because their wings are short, and unfitted for long flights. This is, at least, one cause. In the Philippines, for instance, many families of parrots are confined to particular islands, and never met with on others lying in the immediate vicinity. - Blumenbach. THE TOUCAN. Why is the toucan also called the 'Egg-sucker'? Because it chiefly feeds on the eggs found in other birds' nests. Why has the toucan a broad and long bill, covered with branches of nerves? Because the nests in which it finds its food are often very deep and dark, and this provision enables the bird to feel its way as accurately as the finest and most delicate finger could. WOODPECKER. Why is the downy wood-pecker so destructive to the orchards of North America? Because it makes one hole close to another, in a horizontal line, till it has completed a circle of holes all round the tree. RED-CREEPER. Why is the hook-billed red-creeper so highly-prized in the Sandwich Isles? Because the ingenious natives manufacture various articles of ornament and dress, as helmets, and even entire mantles, with its carmine red feathers. HUMMING-BIRD. Why are humming-birds so called? Because they are almost continually on the wing, fluttering like bees, and making a humming noise. They are so small as to be worn as ear-rings by the Indian ladies. When dried, the least of them weigh only about twenty grains each. The nest is of cotton, and about the size of a walnut, with two eggs about as big as peas. AMERICAN CROW. Why does the carrion-crow of America differ materially from the bird so common in England? Because of its greater rapacity as well as tameness. Thus, in the cities where they are protected, they enter the very kitchen, and feed on whatever is thrown to them, even vegetables. Ifunmolested they will remain in the same premises for months, flying to the roof at dusk to spend the night. Six or seven are often seen standing,in cold weather, round the funnel of a chimney, apparently enjoying the heat from the smoke. Notwithstanding the penalties imposed by law, a number of these birds are destroyed on account of their audacious pilfering. They seize young pigs as great dainties. They watch the cackling hen, in order to get the fresh egg from her nest; and they will not hesitate to swallow a brood of young ducks. In order to keep them from the roofs of houses, where their dung is detrimental, the inhabitants guard the top with broken pieces of glass fastened in mortar; and they often kill them by throwing boiling water upon them. No fewer than two hundred of these birds are daily fed by the city of Natchez. - Audubon. BIRD OP PARADISE. Why were birds of paradise formerly thought to be without feet? Because they were and are worn as ornaments in India, on account of their beautiful plumage; and when sold for this purpose, the Passous still cut off the feet. -- Blumenbach. PART IV. 11* INDICATOR. Why is the indicator also called the honey-cuckoo'? Because, like the honey-bear,* it obtains its food from the nests of the wild bees. Why is the indicator protected by the Hottentots ? Because, by its notes, it is said to conduct them to the nests of the wild bees. LOXIA. Why is the pensile loxia of the Cape and Madagascar so called? Because it builds a remarkable nest, in the vicinity of water, in shape almost like a retort, with a depending neck for ingress and egress, and so disposed that the aperture is close to the water. -- Blumenbach. Why do many birds of warm climates build pendulous nests, which are attached to the extreme branches of trees? Because there only are they secure from their enemies, the snakes and monkeys. MOCKING-BIRD. Why is the mocking-bird so called? Because, in addition to the fulness and melody of his original notes, he has the faculty of imitating the notes of all other birds, from the humming-bird to the eagle. In measure and accent he faithfully follows his originals, while in force and sweetness of expression he greatly improves upon them. A bystander might suppose that the whole feathered tribes had assembled together on a trial of skill, each striving to produce his utmost effect, so perfect are his imitations. He often deceives the sportsman, and even * See Quadrupeds, p. 18. birds themselves are sometimes imposed upon by this, admirable music. In confinement he loses little of the power or energy of his song. He whistles for the dog: Cæsar starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet his master. He cries like a hurt chick- en, and the hen hurries about, with feathers on end, to protect her injured brood. He repeats the tune taught him, though it be of considerable length, with great accuracy. He runs over the notes of the canary, and of the red-bird, with such superior execution and effect, that the mortified songsters confess his triumph by their silence. His fondness for variety some suppose to injure his song. His imitations of the brown thrush are often interrupted by the crowing of cocks; and his exquisite warblings after the blue-bird, are mingled with the screaming of swallows, or the cackling of hens. During moonlight, both in the wild and tame state, he sings the whole night long. The hunters, in their night excursions, know that the moon is rising the instant they begin to hear his delightful solo. Rennie. Mr Southey, in his notes to Madoc, says, ' A negress was once heard to exclaim, 'Please God Almighty, how sweet that mocking-bird sing! he never tire.' By day and night it sings alike; when weary of mocking others, the bird takes up its own natural strain, and so joyous a creature is it, that it will jump and dance to its own music. This bird is perfectly domestic, the Americans holding it sacred. Would that we had more of these humane prejudices in England, if that word may be applied to a feeling so good in itself, and in its tendency.' SNOW-BUNTING. Why is the snow-bunting so called? Because it is the only living creature that is found at the height of 2000 feet above the limit of perpetual snow. The snow-finch is found on Caucasus and the European Alps. FLY-CATCHER. Why is the red-eyed fly-catcher in the West Indies called Tom Kelly'? Because his notes are in short emphatic bars of two, three, or four syllables; and on listening to his song, you may fancy you hear the words, 'Tom Kelly! whip! Tom Kelly!' very distinctly. -- Rennie. TAILOR-BIRD. Why is the tailor-bird so called? Because of the art with which it makes its nest; sewing some dry-leaves to a green one at the extremity of a twig, and thus forming a hollow cone, which it afterwards lines with feathers. It is found in India, and is smaller than a wren. - Blumenbach. GULL-TEAZER. Why is the sea-swallow also called 'the gull teazer'? Because it is frequently seen to pursue and persecute the lesser guils, till they disgorge their food, which it dexterously catches before it reaches the water. AMERICAN PIGEON. Why are the wild pigeons of America so celebrated? Because of their great power of flight, which enables them, when in need, to survey and pass over an astonishing extent of country in a very short time. This is proved by facts known to the greater number of observers in America. Pigeons, for example, have been killed in the neighbourhood of New York, with their crops still filled with rice, collected by them in the fields of Georgia and Carolina, the nearest point at which this supply could possibly have been obtained; and as it is well ascertained, that, owing to their great power of digestion, they will decompose food entirely |