16 • FUNCTIONS OF BIRDS. 



to the surrounding foliap^e or branches, as not easily to be discovered ev^u by pet- 

 Bons who are in search of them. 



This is one of those numerous and wonderful contrivances which compel us to 

 believe that every part of the creation is under the ])rotection of a superintending 

 Brtne, whose goodness knows no bounds. Without this, what can we suppose it ia 

 that "instigates a creature which may never before have had young, to form a nest, 

 hollow, for the purpose of containing eggs ; (things that as yet it knows nothing of ;) 

 and of concentrating a necessary proportion of heat for the incubation ? Without 

 this, what can we suppose it is that dictates the necessity of forming £he outside of 

 this nest with coarse materials, as a foundation, and of lining its interior with more 

 delicate substances? How do these animals learn that they are to have eggs, and 

 that these eggs will require a nest of a certain size and capacity? Who is it that 

 teaches them to calculate the time with such exactness, that they never lay their 

 eggs before the receptacle for them is finished? No one can surely be so blind aa 

 to observe all this, and not to perceive the superintendence of a beneficent wisdom 

 influencing every operation. 



The classification of birds is principally founded on their habits of life ; and on 

 the formation of their external parts, particularly of their bills. The grand diYia\CD 

 is into LAND BIRDS and water birds. 



LAND BIRDS. 



1. Rapacious Birds {accipitres), have their bill hooked ; and on each side of tha 

 opper mandible there is an angular projection. They consist of Vultures, Eagleti 

 or Hawks, and Owls. These birds are all carnivorous, and associate in pairs; «ind 

 the female is generally larger and stronger than the male. 



2. Pies [piece). These have their bills sharp at the edge, compressed at the sides, 

 and convex on the upper surface. The principal genera are Shrikes, Crows, Rolhirs, 

 Orioles, Grackles, Humming-birds, Parrots, Toucans, Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, Horn- 

 bills, and Kingfishers. Some of them associate in pairs, and others congreg8,te. 

 They live on various kinds of food ; and usually build their nests in trees, the maU 

 feeding the female during the process of incubation. 



3. Passerine Birds (passeres), have a conical, sharp-pointed bill. To this order 

 belong the Finches, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Thrushes. Fly-catchers, Swallows, Laika, 

 Wagtails, Titmice, and Pigeons. While breeding they live chiefly in pairs; and th» 

 nests of several of the species are of curious and singular construction. The greate* 

 number of them sing. Some of them subsist on seeds, and others on insects. 



4. Gallijiaceous Birds {^(jallince). The bills of these birds have the upper mand: 

 ble considerably arched. Pheasants, Turkeys, Peacocks, Bustards, Pintadoes, and 

 Grouse, all belong to this order. They live principally on the ground ; and scratch 

 the earth with their feet for the purpose of finding grain and seeds. They usually 

 associate in families, consisting of one male and several females. Their nests are 

 artlessly formed on the ground ; and the females produce a numerous ofispring 



WATER BIRDS. 



5. Waders (grallce). These have a roundish bill, and a fleshy tongue; and the 

 legs of most of the species are long. The principal genera are the Herons, Plovers, 

 Snipes, and Sandpipers, which live for the most part among marshes and fens, and 

 feed on worms and other animal productions. They form nests on the ground. 



6. Swimmers (anseres). The bills of these birds are broad at the top, and covered 

 with a membranaceous skin. The tribes best known are the Ducks, Auks, Pen- 

 guins, Petrels, Pelicans, Guillemots, Gulls, and Terns. They live chiefly in th« 

 water, and feed on fish, worms, and aquatic plants. Moat of the species are poly, 

 gamons, and construct their nests among reeds or in moist places. The females la| 

 many eggs. 



