INTRODUCTION. 13 



That the present volume may the better fulfil our 

 design of awakening and extending a taste for ob- 

 serving the beauties of nature, we have judged it 

 expedient to leave the beaten path of our predeces- 

 sors, and to ramble through fields and forests, un- 

 fettered by system, but alive to whatever we meet 

 with likely to interest for its curiosity or its novelty. 



Before entering upon our immediate subject, we 

 will notice one of the several methods devised by 

 naturalists for arranging birds into various groups 

 according to their prevalent habits, &c. Such ar- 

 rangements are not only convenient in assisting the 

 memory, but often lead to the discovery of impor- 

 tant facts connected with the mutual relations of 

 the several groups. 



Quinary System of Classification of Birds. 



ORDER I., RAPTORES, Birds of Prey. 



1. Family,- -? 



2. Family, Vulturida, Vulture kind. 



3. Family, Falconida, Falcon kind. 



4. Family, Strigida, Owl kind. 



5. Family, ? 



ORDER II., INSESSORES, Perchers. 

 Tribe L, FISSIROSTRES, Cleft Bills. 



1. Family, Meropida, Bee-eater kind. 



2. Family, Hirundinidte. Swallow kind. 



3. Family, Caprimulgidce, Night-jar kind. 



4. Family, Todida, Tody kind. 



5. Family, Halcyonida, Kingfisher kind. 



Tribe II., DENTIROSTRES, Toothed Bills. 



1. Family, Muscicapida, Flycatcher kind. 



2. Family, Laniadte, Shrike kind. 



3. Family, Merulida, Thrush kind. 



4. Family, Sylviada, Warbler kind. 



5. Family, Piprida, Chatterer kind. 



B 



