Vlll OPBIRDS. 



3 Scansoresj or climbers. Theso birds have two toei 

 before and two behind, or rather they have the power of 

 throwing one of the fore toes back at pleasure. This con- 

 struction gives them such great power of climbing, that thej 

 can ascend the perpendicular trunk of a tree. The princi- 

 pal birds in this order are the parrot family and the wood- 

 peckers. 



4. Rasoresy or gallinaceous birds. These birds have the 

 head small in proportion to the body. The bill is generally 

 short, with the other mandible somewhat curved, and fur- 

 nished with a cere. The nostrils have usually a protecting 

 fleshy membrane. The tarsus, or lower part of the leg, is 

 long and bare, and there are four toes, those in front being 

 united by a slight membrane, while that behind is generally 

 higher up the leg, and smaller than the others. This 

 order comprises nearly all the birds used as food, and it 

 includes the peacock, the turkey, the common cock and 

 hen, the partridge, the pheasant, and the pigeon family. 



5. ^jrrallatores, or Waders. These birds are characterized 

 ftv their long and slender legs, and generally bare thighs. 

 Their feet have generally three toes, more or less united at 

 the base by a web, and the central toe is often longer and 



