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A European finch (Serinus hortulanus) closely related to the canary.

A white crystalline nitrogenous substance obtained by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on silk gelatin.

Pertaining to, or resembling, a goose, or the skin of a goose.

An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean, and the seed of Physostigma venenosum; physostigmine. It is used in ophthalmic surgery for its effect in contracting the pupil.

Of or pertaining to the Passeres. The columbine, gallinaceous, and passerine tribes people the fruit trees. Sydney Smith.

Cloth or material for making trousers.

Characterized by unequal toes, three turned forward and one backward, as in most passerine birds.

One of the Eurylaimidæ, a family of East Indian passerine birds.

A small singing bird of the Finch family (Serinus Canarius), a native of the Canary Islands. It was brought to Europe in the 16th century, and made a household pet. It generally has a yellowish body with the wings and tail greenish, but in its wild state it is more frequently of gray or brown color. It is sometimes cal…

A division of passerine birds in which the vocal muscles are but little developed, so that they lack the power of singing.

A group of passerine birds, including the creepers and nuthatches.

Having a toothed bill; -- applied to a group of passerine birds, having the bill notched, and feeding chiefly on insects, as the shrikes and vireos. See Illust. (N) under Beak.

A passerine bird of the family Dicruridæ. They are usually black with a deeply forked tail. They are natives of Asia, Africa, and Australia; -- called also drongo shrikes.

One of several Asiatic and East Indian passerine birds, belonging to Enucurus, and allied genera. The tail is deeply forking.

Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserinæ, and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several allied genera. See Anseres.

ve (Zoöl.), one of several small American pigeons of the genus Columbigallina, esp. C. passerina of the Southern United States, Mexico, etc. They live chiefly on the ground. -- Ground fish (Zoöl.), any fish which constantly lives on the botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut. -- Ground floor, the floor of a…

Any one of several species of long-tailed, passerine birds of the genus Momotus, having a strong serrated beak. In most of the species the two long middle tail feathers are racket-shaped at the tip, when mature. The bird itself is said by some writers to trim them into this shape. They feed on insects, reptiles, and fr…

Having a separate and simple tendon to flex the first toe, or hallux, as do passerine birds.

A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris), native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted finch.

Having few or imperfect syringeal muscles; -- said of some passerine birds (Oligomyodi).