CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. Tables of Classification. 

 Directions for their Application. 



BIRDS form the second class in the great natural divi- 

 sion of the Animal Kingdom. They resemble the first 

 class, Mammalia (those that suckle their young), in some 

 respects ; such as the general form of the skeleton, the 

 mode of breathing through lungs, &c. They differ from 

 them by being what is termed Oviparous, or producing 

 their young enclosed in eggs, in their outward form, in 

 their feathery covering, and in the structure of their 

 mouths, which are furnished with a horny bill, instead 

 of lips and teeth ; but most particularly are they dis- 

 tinguished from other animals, by being provided with 

 wings. 



It is not our intention, as we have said, to treat the 

 subject in what is called a scientific manner, by entering 

 into details and particulars, more calculated for those 

 who have made it a matter of long study, than for the 

 greater number, probably, of our readers, who may have 

 paid little attention to it ; but as it is our wish to be as 

 extensively useful as possible, we have drawn up the 

 following Tables, giving at a glance, not only a general 

 outline of the rules by which Birds are classed, but at 

 the same time enabling an inexperienced person, with 

 very little trouble, in most cases, to make out for him- 

 self the genus, or family, of any specimen which may be 

 placed before him, and which he may wish to describe. 



We are far from recommending these Tables as per- 

 fect, or even the best that could be drawn up, and an 

 experienced student will, no doubt, find some of the 

 subdivisions to be defective ; but, when the difficulty of 

 any mode of classification, so accurate and unexception- 

 able in all its details as to meet every case, is considered, 

 an approximation to the truth is all that can be hoped 



