ALERITLIDIE, or TunninzE, a family of birds of the order Insessores, sub-order Denti rostres, having arched and compressed bills, which are pointed and notched, but not strongly. They are regarded by many naturalists as intermediate between the Laniado3 (Shrikes, etc.) and the Sylviadm (Warblers, etc.). The species are very numerous, and are arranged in many genera. They are very widely distributed over the globe, some of them being found in cold and some in warm climates. Some are migratory, a few spe cies'are gregarious at all seasons, many are gregarious only in winter. They generally build their nests in trees. They feed chiefly on soft animal and vegetable substances, as berries, insects, and worms. Many of them are birds of very sweet song; some are remarkable for their imitative powers. To this family belong thrushes (among which are. reckoned the blackbird, redwing, fieldfare, ring-ouzel, .etc.), orioles, mocking-birds, dippers, etc.
3fERY, JOSEPH, 1798-1866; b. France, educated at a seminary and subsequently studied law, but early developed a passion for atheistical lore, and was expelled from the seminary on that account. While reading law he had an unfortunate affair, ending in a duel, which resulted in his dismissal from the school, but not in dulling his keen sense of honor, for he was soon after one of the principals in a duel iu Paris in which he was severely wounded. Subsequently he lived a dissipated life in Italy, and was ultimately obliged to leave the country. In 1821 he attacked th9 abbe Elicagaray in a
pamphlet, and was placed under arrest, but not profiting by this seclusion he soon found himself again in durance for transgressing the laws regulating the press. The following year he went to Constantinople and returned after a short sojourn (not being on good terms with the French ambassador at that port), to edit a newspaper at Marseilles, and in 1824, found himself once more in Paris, associated with Auguste 3farseille Barthelemy the satirist, and together they published La Villgicule, an attack on the ministry of Villele. With him he was associated in writing verses dedicated to the Bonaparte family, and satirical verses on other administrations, and published poems, romances, and dramas in rapid succession. In 1828, they published Napoleon en Egypte, a lyrical poem, sending preseutation copies to each member of the Bonaparte family. Among his most attrac tive works, some of which have been translated into English, are Nuits anglaises, first issued as Nails de Londres; Hera; La guerre du Xizam; Les confessions de Marion Delorme; Nuits d' Orient; Un carnaval de Pa/ris; and Pm5sies ;imes, late edition 1864. He pub fished, 1861, Thedtre de salon, and wrote tlia libretto for allitta1121:1 and other opera.s.