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 division 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 distinguished 

 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 himself 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 perfect, or 

 even the best that could be drawn up, and an experienced 

 student will, no donbt, find some of the subdivisions to be 

 defective ; but, when the difficulty of any mode of classification, 



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