CONTENTS. 





page 



Introduction i 



Chapter I. Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. — Tables of 

 Classification. — Directions for their Application .... 5 



Chapter II. Structure of Birds. — External Structure. — Skeleton. — 

 Character of Beak. — Bones, their Lightness. — Solidity of Back- 

 bone. — Breastbone, Use of. — Wing-bones. — Legs, Peculiarities of. 

 — When resting on one leg, why Birds do not fall . . . .26 



Chapter III. Internal Structure. — Digestive Organs. — Gullet, Crop, 

 Stomach — Adaptation of, to different Habits of Birds. — Gastric 

 Juice — Its Use and Properties. — Gizzard, its Grinding Powers. — 

 Respiration of Birds 42 



Chapter IV. Organs of Sound.— Ducks, Crane, Goat-sucker, Bell- 

 bird, &c. — Distance at which Sounds may be heard. — Plumage. — 

 Structure of Feathers. — Goose-Plucking.— Summer and Winter 

 Plumage 55 



Chapter V. Flight.— Muscular Power of Wings. — Peculiarity of, in 

 different Birds. — Adapted to various Habits. — Rapidity of Motion, 

 and Rate of— How calculated. — Long Continuance of Flight ac- 

 counted for.— Migration, Causes of. — Tendency of most Birds to 

 wander at particular times. — Why seldom seen in the act of 

 Migrating. — Instinctive power of finding their way . . .68 



Chapter VI. Eagle and Hawk Tribe.— Wild Eagle — Tamed— 

 Muscular Powers of — Carry off Children, Lambs, &c— Sometimes 

 killed on the Wing by Weasels. — Battle between Cat and Eagle. — 

 How Caught when Fishing — Voracity of — Nests — Singular Mode 

 of capturing their Prey. — Bird of Washington. — Eagle Traps. — 

 Feathers prized .... ..... 92 



