On the Ornithology of Wilts. 239 
On the Ornithalagy of Wilts. 
No. 3.—ON THE STRUCTURE AND FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 
In beginning this paper on the structure of birds, it will be well 
to premise that I am not going to enter into any learned disquisition 
on their internal economy ; or start any new theory regarding their 
shape or their functions. I propose merely to give a plain state- 
ment of their formation, whereby such persons as are either 
commencing this delightful study, or are not very proficient in it, 
may gain some insight into the subject. But before we examine 
their general structure, let us for one moment consider the position 
which birds were formed to hold in animated nature, and the 
element they were fitted to people: then, when we proceed to con- 
sider their formation, we shall notice how admirably it is adapted 
to that end, how exactly suited to that purpose. We are told in 
the history of their creation, that they were formed out of the 
water, and that they were made “to fly above the earth in the open 
firmament of heaven.”—That then is their own proper sphere, that 
the domain allotted to them to occupy. It is true that we find some 
continually remaining in the element from which they first derived 
their origin, passing almost all their time in the water; others 
again there are which seldom leave the surface of the earth, 
and are neither formed for swimming nor for flight; but the 
great majority of species are essentially denizens of the air; 
soaring high above our heads, skimming here and there, floating 
with expanded wings, “cleaving with rapid pinions the vast aerial 
expanse.” Now it is clear that to enable them to do this, the 
general formation of their bodies must be extremely different from 
that of the Mammalia, though to a certain extent there are strong 
resemblances and analogies between them and their respective orders : 
as there are carnivorous quadrupeds, so there are rapacious birds, 
