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ZOOLOGY ?. 



i. 



ago, two fossil skeletons were found in Europe of a birdlike creature which 

 had wings and feathers, and also teeth and a lizardlike tail. From these 

 fossil remains and certain structures (as scales) and habits (as the egg- 



Common tern {Sterna hirundo) and young, showing nesting and feeding habits. 

 From group at American Museum of Natural History. 



laying habits), naturalists have concluded that birds and reptiles in distant 

 times were nearly related and that our existing birds probably developed 

 from a reptilelike ancestor millions of years ago. 



Classification of Birds 



Division I. Ratitce. Running birds with no keeled breastbone. Examples, 



ostrich, cassowary. 

 Division II. Carinatce. Birds with keeled breastbone. 



Order i. Passeres. Perching birds ; three toes in front, one behind. One half 

 of the birds are included in this order. Examples, sparrow, thrush, swallow. 



Order ii. Gallince. Strong legs; feet adapted to perching. Beak stout. 

 Examples, jungle fowl, grouse, quail, domestic fowl. 



Order hi. Raptores. Birds of prey. Hooked beak. Strong claws. Exam- 

 ples, eagle, hawk, owl. 



Order iv. Grallatores. Waders, Long neck, beak, and legs. Examples, 

 snipe, crane, heron. 



