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CHAPTER II. 

 STRUCTURE OF BIRDS. 



External Structure. Skeleton. Character of Beak. Bones, 

 their Lightness. Solidity of Backbone. Breastbone, Use of. 

 Wing-bones. Legs, Peculiarities of. When resting on one 

 Leg. Why Birds do not fall. 



WE shall now proceed to give a few details concerning 

 the structure and peculiarity of their forms and cha- 

 racters. 



In examining the skeleton, we find the head termi- 

 nating in a beak, composed of a horny substance, in 

 form and structure and hardness, as intimately connected 

 with the habits and general character of the bird, as 

 jaws and teeth are with those of man and other animals. 

 Thus in Eagles, Hawks, and all birds which tear their 

 prey, as well as in Parrots, which have to bruise hard 

 substances, or procure their food by piercing the bark 

 of trees, as Woodpeckers, the bill is extremely hard and 

 powerful. Whereas in those which feed on worms, and 

 substances equally soft, or live by suction, or swallow 

 their food, as Woodcocks, Ducks, &c., the hardness is 

 gradually diminished. 



A philosopher need not go further than this instru- 

 ment, in search of a proof how well the providence of 

 God fits the means to the end. 



The hooked tip and sharp over-hanging edge of the 

 upper mandible, in the birds of prey, acts like a dissec- 

 tor's knife, readily separating the flesh from the bones: 

 a bill, hooked at the end with sharp edges, may indeed 

 be considered as a characteristic of all birds of prey, 

 that is, of all birds living on smaller birds, or quadru- 

 peds, or fishes. Instead of a hook there is a sort of 

 tooth at the extremity of the beak of certain birds of 

 this class, which adds greatly to its strength; and it has 



