EXPLANATION OF PLATE X. 



Pig. 1. The DUNLIN or PURRE, (Tringa variabilis,) showing the principal 

 parts of the plumage, particularly those most conducive to flight; a, 

 the front ; b, the throat ; c, the occiput ; d, the cheek ; e, auri 

 cle, or auditory conch; f, breast; g, back; h, scapularies; i, i. 

 lesser coverts; k, k. winglet or spurious wing; 1, 1. greater coverts; 

 m, m. the primaries or greater quill feathers of wing, which are suc 

 ceeded by n, n. the secondaries, and these by o, o. the tertials; 

 p, the upper tail coverts; q, the under tail coverts; r, the tail 

 feathers, (rectrices.) 



Fig. 2. The wing of common Buzzard, (Buteo vulaaris,) stripped of all its 

 feathers excepting those which give it power and expansibility, and 

 which are those arising from the hand and ulna, termed quill feathers. 

 They form two sets; the first set, (m,) consists of those arising from 

 the hand, (metacarpus and phalanges,) constituting the most important 

 of the series, being mainly instrumental, by their length and shape, 

 their stiffness or flexibility, in determining the character or the power 

 of flight. They are termed the pinions or primary quill-feathers, and 

 are ten in number, but they differ in form, as in relative length. The 

 second set arises exclusively from the ulna, and are termed the second 

 aries or secondary quill-feathers, (n.) They are usually shorter, broader, 

 and less rigid than the former. Their number varies. From the small 

 bone which represents the thumb, arise certain stiff feathers, lying 

 close upon the quills of the primaries, and constituting the spurious 

 wing or winglet, (k.) Besides these, there is a group of feathers termed 

 tertiaries, arising from the humeral joint of the fore-arm, and which in 

 many birds, as the curlews, plovers, lapwings, &c., are very long, form 

 ing a sort of pointed appendage, very apparent during flight; in most 

 birds, however, they are very short, or not to be discriminated from 

 the rest of the greater covei ts, of which, in fact, they are a continua 

 tion; hence they cannot be strictly reckoned among the quill-feathers. 

 The same observation applies to the feathers (o,) attached to the upper 

 part of the humerus and termed scapularies ; these lie along the sides 

 of the back, and in many birds are of great length. 



LAND BIRDS. 

 ORDER 1st. BIRDS OF PREY, RAPTORES OR ACCIPITRES. 



Fig. 3. a, White-headed, Sea, or Bald Eagle, seizing the fish just obtained 

 by b, the Fish-hawk or common Osprey. 



ORDER 2nd. PERCHING BIRDS, INSESSORES OR PASSERS. 

 Fig. 4. a, Long-eared Podargus; b, Ruby-throated Humming-bird; c, Blue- 

 jay ; d, Green Tody ; e, Black-cap Titmouse ; f, Wagtail. 



ORDER 3rd. CLIMBERS, SCANSORES. 

 Fig. 5. a, Cockatoo; b, Green Woodpeckers. 



ORDER 4th. SCRATCHERS, RASORES. 

 Fig. 6. a, Ruffed Grouse ; b, California Partridge or Quail. 



ORDER 5th. RUNNERS OR TRATELERS, CURSORES. 

 Fig. 7. Cassowary or Asiatic Ostrich. 



WATEJ^BIRDS. 



ORDER 6th. WADERS, STILTS, OR SHORE BIRDS, GRALLATORES. 

 Fig. 8. a, Crowned Crane ; b, Virginia Rail ; c, Little Sand-piper. 



ORDER Yth. SWIMMERS, NATATORES OR PALMIPEDES. 

 Fig. 9. a, Northern Pivor; b, Putngouinn Penguin. 



