Introduction to British Ornithology, 



121 



Art. VI. An Introduction to the Study of British Ornithology. 



By A. J. N. 



Birds form the second grand division of the Linnean sys- 

 tem of animals, and are characterised by having the body 

 covered with feathers. The Linnean orders are six : — 



1. ^ccipitres (accipiter, a hawk; hawk kind, or birds of prey). Bill and 



claws strongly arched (j%. 54. a). 

 .2. Picas (pica, a magpie; magpie kind, or peckers). Bill compressed, a 



little curved (6). 



3. ^'nseres {ansery a goose ; of the goose kind). Bill obtuse at the end (c); 

 feet webbed {d). < 



4. Grallae (grfl'/Zts, stilts ; stalkers). Legs very long (e). 



5. Gallinae {gallus, a cock ; pheasant kind). Bill convex, the upper man- 

 dible arched (/ ) ; toes connected by a membrane at the bottom (g) y tail 

 feathers more than twelve {h). 



6. Passeres {passer y a sparrow ; sparrow kind). Bill conic, pointed ; nostrils 

 oval, broad, naked (i). 



Pennant arranged birds into two divisions ; viz. Land birds 

 and Water birds. These he subdivided into nine orders: of 

 these the Land birds formed six ; viz. Rapacious, Pies, Gal- 

 linaceous, Columbine, Passerine, and Struthious; the Water 

 birds three ; viz. Cloven-footed or Waders, Pinnated-footed 

 and Web-footed. 



Brisson arranged birds into two grand divisions ; viz. Clo- 

 ven-footed and Web-footed. In the first are 17 orders and 85 

 genera ; in the second, 9 orders and 28 genera. 



Dr. Latham's arrangement is as follows : — 



First Division. Land birds, Terrestres. — Order 1. ^cci- 

 pitres, or rapacious ; 2. Picae, pies ; 3. Passeres, passerine ; 

 4. Columbae, pigeons; 5. Gallinae, gallinaceous; 6. Stru- 

 thi5nes, struthious. 



Second Division. Water birds, Aquaticae. — Order 7. Gral- 

 lae, waders; 8. Grallae-pinnatipedes, waders with pinnated 

 feet; 9. Palmipedes, web-footed. 



