408 AVES. 



webbed stem, hollowed at its base; these webs or horizontal feathers are 

 again themselves webbed by still smaller ones; and the texture, strength, 

 lustre, and general form of these feathers are infinitely varied. The feathers 

 fall off twice a year, and this change of plumage is termed moulting. In 

 some species, the winter plumage differs from that of the summer; and in 

 the greater number the female differs from the male, in her colors being less 

 bright. The young generally resemble the female. The brain of birds has 

 the same general characters as that of the other oviparous vertebrated 

 animals, but is distinguished by its proportionally greater volume, which 

 often exceeds that of the Mammalia. But this apparent magnitude is 

 caused by tubercles analogous to the corpora striata, and not by the hemis- 

 pheres, which are very small and without circumvolutions. The cerebel- 

 lum is of considerable size, without lateral lobes, and almost completely 

 formed by the vermiform process. The trachea or windpipe, in birds, is 

 formed of complete rings. At its bifurcation, is a glottis, provided with 

 muscles, termed the inferior larynx. This is the organ which produces the 

 voice of birds ; and it is afterwards modified by the length, breadth, and 

 elasticity of the trachea, and its orifice in the throat. The upper larynx is 

 simple. The cavity of the thorax is not in birds separated by a fleshy 

 partition from the abdomen. The lungs adhere to the spine, and com- 

 municate with many membranous sacs, situate in the abdomen, under tne 

 axilla, and even in the cavities of the larger bones, the substance of the 

 bill, and in the fistulous portions of the quills. The great quantity of air 

 which birds respire, appears to have effect upon all their motions. They 

 respire, it may be said, as well by the branches of the aorta, as by those 

 of the pulmonary artery. It is believed that the temperature to which the 

 bodies of birds is raised in hatching, and the great muscular force which 

 they exert in almost continued flight for many days, depends upon the action 

 of the air upon the blood. Birds, like all the vertebrated animals, possess 

 five senses ; but in this class, that of touch is least perfect. Their feathers 

 prevent them from receiving, by immediate contact, the impressions of the 

 object which they touch ; and their feet are enveloped in corneous laminae, 

 or scales, which materially blunt sensation. All enjoy the organ of sight; 

 and bv a particular mechanism in the structure of the eye, they are enabled 

 to perceive objects at a distance with the same facility as when near the 

 body. Besides the two ordinary eyelids, there is always a third semi-trans- 

 parent one placed at the internal angle of the eye, which, by the assistance 

 of a remarkable muscular apparatus, may be draAvn before the eye like a 

 curtain. The cornea is very convex. Although birds have no external 

 cartilaginous ear, all appear to enjoy the faculty of feeling. Some of the 

 nocturnal birds have the auditory opening surrounded by feathers. The 

 organs of smell are concealed in the base of the bill, and the breadth of the 

 nasal openings determine their form. The sense of smell in the vulture 

 and raven, is said to be so very acute, that they can smell carrion at a very 



