Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/91

78 in the Tribe now before us, of which those renowned songsters, the Nightingale of the Old World, and the Mocking-bird of the New, are members.

The Dentirostres are scattered over the whole globe, and are comprised in the following five Families, Sylviadæ, Turdidæ, Muscicapadæ, Ampelidæ, and Laniadæ.

We have here a very extensive and widespread group of small and delicately formed birds, very many of which are noted for their powers of song. Though the habits of so vast a number of species vary considerably, yet in general the Warblers frequent groves and woods, and search for the small insects which constitute their food, among the leaves and twigs, and in the crevices of the bark of trees, rather than on the wing. Mr. Swainson thus describes the habits of these pretty little birds: —"The chief peculiarity which runs through this numerous Family is the very small size and delicate structure of its individuals. Excepting the Humming-birds, we find among these elegant little creatures the smallest birds in the creation. The diminutive Golden-crests, the Nightingale, the Whitethroat, and the Wood-wren, are all well-known examples of genuine Warblers, familiar to the British naturalist. The groups of this extensive Family, spread over all the habitable regions of the globe, are destined to perform an important part in the economy of