ZOOLOGY. 61 



of Predaceous Quadrupeds, like which, they only possess one 

 stomach ; they are armed with sharp daws for the securing 

 and destroying their prey, and though not possessed of teethj 

 ■yet, from the structure of their Bills, they are enabled to cut 

 and divide the Animals they overcome, with the greatest 

 facility. 



Granivorous Birds are furnished with intestines longer and 

 larger than those in the Carnivorous kinds : their food is 

 finally digested in the true stomach or gizzard, consisting of 

 two muscles of vast poAver, in which the food is rendered fit 

 for the operation of the gastric juices. To assist in com- 

 minuting the food, in the stomach of most of this tribe of 

 Birds, are found numbers of small pebbles, which consider- 

 ably assist the operation of digestion in the gizzard ; and 

 when these stones are by friction rendered quite smooth, 

 they are rejected, and their places supplied by others whose 

 surfaces are less smooth. 



The increase of this order of Birds is astonishingly great, 

 so much so, that, should the increase of a single familr, 

 (Pidgeons for instance,) be permitted, without any cause 

 operating to check it, it has been calculated that in a very 

 few years, the surface of the whole globe would not produce 

 sufficient to support them. Instead of the gloomy haunts 

 of the forest, the inaccessible or frowning precipice, numerous 

 species of this harmless useful family seem to court the com- 

 pany of Man, on whose labours they are content to rest 

 principally for support. Their whole lives are occupied la 

 hatching, rearing, and feeding their offspring ; in searchiti-s: 

 for seeds, fruit, worms and insects j and in avoiding their 



