224 AVES. 



plumage^ impermeable to water, all concur with the feet in 

 making good navigators of the Palmipedes. 



In other birds, which most commonly are partially web- 

 footed, at least between the external toes, we observe elevated 

 tarsi ; legs divested of feathers at their lower extremities ; a 

 long, thin shape, and in fine, all the requisites for wading 

 along the shores of rivers to seek their food. Such, in fact, 

 is the regimen of the greater number ; and although some of 

 them inhabit dry grounds, they are called, Shore-Birds, or 

 TVade?'s. 



Among the true land birds, the Gallinacese, like our domes- 

 tic Cock, have a heavy carriage, a moderate beak, the upper 

 mandible of which is arched ; the nostrils partly covered by a 

 soft and inflated scale ; the toes almost always indented on the 

 edges, and short membranes between the bases of the anterior 

 ones. They fly heavily, and but a short distance at a time. 

 Their chief food is grain. 



Birds of prey have a hooked beak, the point of which is 

 sharp, and curved downwards ; the nostrils pierced in a mem- 

 brane which invests the whole base of that beak, and feet 

 armed with vigorous talons. They live on flesh, pursue other 

 birds, and are consequently, for the most part, vigorous in 

 flight. The greater number have still a slight web between 

 the external toes. 



The Passerinx comprise many more species than all the 

 other families ; but their organization presents so many analo- 

 gies that they cannot be separated, although varying greatly 

 in size a'nd strength. Their two external toes are united at 

 the base, and sometimes for a part of their length. 



Finally, the name of Scansorise, or Climbers, has been 

 given to those birds whose external toe, like the thumb, is 

 directed backwards, because the greater number profit, by a 

 conformation so favourable to a vertical position, to climb 

 trees. (1) 



(1) From my first Tableau Elementaire, in 1798, I was obliged to suppress the 

 Linnsan order of the Picx, which has no one determined character. Illig-er and 

 the greater number of late naturalists have assented to this suppression. 



