28 INTRODUCTION. 



six great orders of birds have been divided by natu- 

 ralists into groups or families called genera, to each, 

 of which a name has been applied often indicative 

 of some peculiarity in the appearance or habits of 

 the bird, and mostly expressed in Latin. Thus, to 

 the Sparrow family has been applied the generic term 

 of FringiUida&) and to the Humming Birds that of 

 TrocJiilidx. These families are again separated into 

 sub-genera, according to certain differences in the for- 

 mation of the bill, feet, wings, etc. To each of these 

 divisions a name is given depending much upon the 

 fancy of the naturalist, and is frequently bestowed 

 in honor of some great patron of science. The sub- 

 genera often consist of many species, and an appro- 

 priate Latin specific name is added to each, by which 

 it may be distinguished from all others. Thus, the 

 common House Wren of Europe is called Troglodytes 

 Domestica the former being its family or generic, 

 and the latter its individual or specific title. Thus 

 to every little warbler that sings its matin song be- 

 neath our windows, science has given a name as sig- 

 nificant as John Smith or John Jones, the only differ- 

 ence being that the part of it which designates his 

 family is mentioned first. 



By a careful attention to the foregoing remarks, 

 and by frequent observation of the habits of birds in 

 their accustomed haunts, the young student may soon 

 become acquainted with the appearance and manners 

 of most of our native species, and with the aid of a 

 little study will be able to recognize in each a fami 



