. Cassell's book of birds . n a nest. Theyoung are tended with great devotion by their parents, who, should danger be at hand, frequentlybetray the presence of their brood by uttering a gentle, long-sustained note of distress. TheMeninting subsists upon worms and insects, seeking its food amongst the plants that border itsfavourite streams. It is very partial to water, and frequently wades therein when pursuing its prey. The ACCENTORS (Accentoies) may be regarded as forming the connecting link between the THE SINGING BIRDS. 293 true Singing Birds and the strong-beaked granivorous races, more e
. Cassell's book of birds . n a nest. Theyoung are tended with great devotion by their parents, who, should danger be at hand, frequentlybetray the presence of their brood by uttering a gentle, long-sustained note of distress. TheMeninting subsists upon worms and insects, seeking its food amongst the plants that border itsfavourite streams. It is very partial to water, and frequently wades therein when pursuing its prey. The ACCENTORS (Accentoies) may be regarded as forming the connecting link between the THE SINGING BIRDS. 293 true Singing Birds and the strong-beaked granivorous races, more especially the Larks. They arerecognisable by their powerful body, moderate-sized or long wing, in which the third or fourth quillexceeds the rest in length, as also by their short, broad tail, strong foot, armed with powerful toes,and much-curved claws. The conical awl-shaped beak turns inwards at its margins, and the nostrilsare covered with a skin; the plumage is lax, and formed of feathers of a relatively large size; the. THE MENINTING (Eiiicitnts coronntits). sexes are alike in appearance, but the coloration of the young diners considerably from that of theadult birds. Only two species of Accentors can properly be regarded as European, the rest inhabitAsia, and are generally seen hopping over the ground or flying very low, in search of the insects,berries, or delicate seeds upon which they subsist; they never frequent lofty trees, or even tall shrubs,except during the breeding season, when the males occasionally perch upon low branches, whilstpouring out their, in most cases, very agreeable song. As winter approaches some species wandersouthward, while others merely quit the bleakest and most exposed peaks for their rocky takes place early in the spring, and two broods are generally produced in the course ofthe summer. Their nests are carefully and neatly built of moss and hay, and lined with some softand elastic materials. The eggs, from three to six
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
