266 



THE POPULAR EDUCATOR. 



extremity of the bird's wing (hand) merely servos the purpose 

 of a support for feathers. The legs vary considerably in 

 length, according to habits. Each foot has three or four toes, 

 terminated by claws ; in aquatic birds connected together by an 

 intervening web this is principally cor.fined to the three 

 anterior toes. The feet and legs are generally covered with 

 horny, scale-like plates, and destitute of feathers. The power 

 of flight which many birds possess is indeed wonderful. The 

 muscles in connection with the upper extremity may be said to 

 consist of two classes : one by which great power is obtained ; 

 and the other, speed at the expense of power. 



Generative System. In their reproduction birds are strictly 

 oviparous. The generative organs exhibit for the most part a 

 close analogy to those of the higher reptilia. The ovary is 

 racemose and single, the right with its oviduct being perma- 

 nently atrophied, a singular violation of symmetry which is con- 



fined to birds. In this class of Vertebrata, incubation attains 

 its highest perfection. It appears to arise from the concurrence 

 of these three exigencies the necessary life and early maturity 

 of the young, the necessity of warmth to their development, 

 and the incompatibility of utero-gestation with flight.* 



Classification. Birds are divided by Professor Huxley into 

 three orders. 



1. SaururoB. Distinguished by having a long tail like a 

 lizard. This order contains only the extinct bird, archseopteryx. 



2. Ratitce. From their raft-like keelless sterna. This 

 order comprises ostriches, rheas, emeus, cassowaries, and the- 

 apteryx. 



3. Carinatce. Having the sternum raised into a median 

 ridge or keel. All ordinary birds belong to this order. 



'- Todd and Bowman. 



LESSONS IN MUSIC. XXIV. 



THE DEAD MARCH IN " SAUL " BOYCE'S CHANT ETC. 

 THE strikingly effective piece which follows, adapted from 



Handel's " Dead March " in his oratorio of " Saul," will exhibit 

 to the pupil the effects of transition in a still more striking 

 manner. [The key-note F is in the lowest space.] Boyce's 

 Chant illustrates both transitions. 



EXERCISE 43. DEAD MARCH IN " SAUL." KEY F MAJOR. M. 50. 

 I 



1. What is life! 'Tis but a. va - pour. Soon it van - ink - es a - way: 



2. See that glo - ry ; how re-splen-dent! Bright-er far than fan - cy paints: 



^+ 



3. Joy - ful crowds, his throne sur-round-ing, Sing with rap- ture of .his love; 



4. Go and share his peo - pie's glo - ry ; 'Midst the run - somed crowd ap - pear : 



f 



3t* 



1. Life is like a dy - ing ta - per : viy soul, ichy wish to stay ? 



2. THERE, IN MA - JES - TT TRANS-C EN-DENT, JE - sus REIGNS, THE KING OF SAINTS. 



3. THRO' THE HEAV'KS HIS PRAISES SOUNDING, FILL - ING ALL THE COURTS A - BOVE. 



4. THINE A JOY - FUL, WONDROUS STO. - KY, One that an - gels love to hear. 





Why not spread thy wings and fly 

 2. Spread thy wings, my soul, and fly 



STRAIGHT TO YON - DER WORLD OF JOY ? 

 STRAIGHT TO YON - DEB WORLD OF JOY. 





3. Spread thy wings, my soul, and fly 



4. SPREAD THY WINGS, MY SOUL, AND FLY 



STRAIGHT TO YON - DER WORLD OF JOY. 

 STRAIGHT TO TON - DER WORLD ov JOY, 



