Birds with grasping claws, are 

 either 



1 22 Introduction to British Ornithology. 



' The number of genera, in the Linnean arrangement, is 78 ; 

 and of species, 930. The species described by Dr. Latham 

 amount to about 5000. The number of Dr. Latham's genera 

 are increased, by his having divided some of the genera of 

 Linnaeus into two or more genera. 



Another system has been lately brought into notice by an 

 eminent zoologist, N. A. Vigors, Esq., (p. 80.) and which is 

 designated the " Quinary System," because it presupposes 

 that not only birds, but all other animals, may be divided and 

 subdivided into groups of fives, thus : — 



Rap tores, preyers. 

 Insessores, perchers. 

 Rasores, scratchers. 

 Grallatores, waders; or 

 ^Natatores, swimmers. 



The six primary orders of Linnaeus are, by Mr. Vigors, 

 converted into five, by uniting the Picae with the Passeres ; 

 by which arrangement, the first division of the whole family of 

 birds, consisting of Insessores, Raptores, Rasores, Gralla- 

 tores, and Natatores, might be considered as classes ; the divi- 

 sion of each of which into five, might be constituted ordei's ; 

 and the division of each of these again into five groups, might 

 constitute the tribes. " So that, if the Raptores should, by 

 subsequent discovery, be completed, the classes, according to 

 this arrangement, will be 5 ; the orders, 25 ; and the genera, 

 125." (Jennings's Ornith.) 



Insessores. — 1. Dentirostres (toothed-beaked), 2. Conirostres (conic- 

 beaked), 3. Fissirostres (cleft-beaked), 4. Scansores (climbers), 5. Tenue- 

 rostres (slender-beaked). 



Raptores. — 1. Falconidae (falcon-like), 2. <S^trigida2 (owl-like), 3. Vw\- 

 luridce (vulture-like), 4. ? 5. ? 



Rasores. — 1. Columbidae (pigeon-like), 2. Phasianidae (pheasant-like), 

 5. Cracidae (curassow-like), 4. ITetraonidae (bustard-like), 5. 5truthionidse 

 (ostrich-like). 



Grallatores. — 1. Charadriae (sea-larks), 2. GruidaB (crane-like), 3. Ral- 

 lidae (rail-like), 4. Jrdeidae (heron-like). 5. jScolopacidas (woodcock-like). 



Natatores. — 1. Pelicanidae (pelican-hke), 2. iaridae (sea-gull -like), 

 5. A'lcadae (awk-like), 4. ^natidae (duck-like), 5. Colyrabidae (dabchick-like). 



Mr. Vigors divides the order Falconidae thus : — 



^quilina (eagle-like), ^ccipitrina (hawk-like), Falconina (falcon-like), 

 ^uteonina (buzzard-like), ilf ilvina (kite-like). 



The Fissirostres order is divided thus : — ilferopidae (woodpecker-like), 

 ^irundinidae (swallow-like), Caprimulgidas (goatsucker-like), Todidae (tit- 

 mouse-like), ifalcyonidae (kingfisher-like). 



It is a curious fact, that by far the greater number of the 

 pie and sparrow tribes, in this country, generally lay five eggs ; 

 the quinary system is thus corroborated. The student should 

 be aware of the censure of St. Pierre : — " Nos ornithologistes 

 enchaines par leur methods, ne songent qu'a grossir leur cata- 



