CONCUSSION. 629 



becomes clitiicult accurately to establish sub-diviaioiis. Tlieir aliment consists of insects, 

 fruits, and grains. It is more exclusively gi-anivorous in proportion to the thickness of 

 the bill, and more exclusively insectivorous us the latter is more attenuated. Hence 

 the division of this order according to the beaks of the birds, as (japiiig, toothed, coitival, 

 and alfiuler. 



To these succeed the Z>j<jodadijU, the birds whoso external toe is directed backwards, 

 like the thumb,, whereby they have a more solid support, of which some of. these birds 

 avail themselves, by hanging and climbing on the trunks of trees. As their bill is more 

 or less strong, their food consists of insects and fruits. Some of them, as the woodpeckers, 

 have peculiar means of obtaining food. 



An order is now reached, to which the name of Gallinaceous birds has been given 

 from their aihnity to the domestic cock. It is remarkable as having furnished us with 

 the greater part of our domestic poultry and with some excellent game. 



The fifth order deserves the appellation of Grallw, from the habits of the birds, and 

 from the structure from which those habits result. They are known by the nudity of 

 the lower part of their legs, and, in general, bj' the height of their tarsi — circum- 

 stances which enable them to walk to a certain dejitli in the water without wetting their 

 feathers, and thus to fish by means of their long neck and bill, which are commonly pro- 

 portioned to the length of their legs. Those which have a strong bill feed on fish and 

 reptiles ; those whose bill is weak, orf- worms and insects. A very small number of 

 them subsist partially on grains and herbs, and these alone live at a distance from the 

 water. 



The last order which came under review was that of the Siriiniiiliiij birds, whose feet 

 and legs are expressly formed for such locomotion, being placed far back on the 

 body, with short and compressed tarsi, and webs between the toes. A close, shining 

 plumage, moistened by an oily secretion, and furnished near the skin with a thick down, 

 protects them from the water, on the surface of which they live. They are also the only 

 birds in w'hich the neck is longer, and sometimes considerably so, than the legs, 

 because, while swimming on the sm-face, they have frequent occasion to seek their food 

 below it. 



How numerous and diversified then are the feathered tribes, whom we may address 

 in the words of the poet : 



" Ye birds that Hy through the ticUls of air. 

 What lessons of wisdom and truth ye bear ; 

 Ye wouUl teach our soids from tlie earth to rise ; 

 Ye woukl bid us all grovelling scenes despise ; 

 Ye would tell us that all its pui'suits are vain, 

 That pleasure is toil — ambition is pain, — 

 That its bliss is touched with a jjoisoning- leaven ; 

 Ye would teach us to fix our aim in heaven. 



Beautiful Bii'ds of lightsome wing. 



Bright creatures that come with the voice of Spring ; 



"We see you arrayed in the hue s of the morn, 



Yet ye di'eam not of pride, and ye wist not of scorn ! 



Though rainbow-splendour around you glows. 



Ye vaunt not the beauty which nature bestows ; 



Oh ! what a lesson for glory are ye. 



How ye preach the grace of humilitj' ! 



Swift Bu-ds that skim o'er the stormy deep, 

 Who steadily onward your journey keep, 

 Who neither for vest nor for slumber stay, 

 But press still forward, by niglit or day— 



