THE FEATHERS. 395 



Thus, then, it may be rendered apparent what 

 are the general characters of a bird, and 

 wherein it differs from all other classes of the 

 animal kingdom. If we were to ask, Why is a bat 

 not a bird? a little reflection on the above sen- 

 tences would furnish the proper answer. No one 

 could say that a bat was an " oviparous animal " 

 with a "covering of feathers;" therefore, to pro- 

 ceed no farther, the bat is no bird, even though it 

 has the power of aerial progression in a degree 

 greater than many birds. Let us, however, enter 

 more minutely into the consideration of the gene- 

 ral characters of a bird. 



Unquestionably the most beautiful, as well as 

 the most characteristic part of a bird, is its cover- 

 ing of feathers. Whether we regard the plumage 

 of the eagle, so firm, so expansive, so majestic in 

 movement, or that of the humming-bird glittering 

 with a gem -like radiance, or that of the bird of 

 paradise, which from its exquisite loveliness was 

 supposed to have had a heavenly origin, this 

 covering of birds is one which has the strongest 

 claim on our attention and admiration. Well 

 may the elegant Paley observe, that "every feather 

 is a mechanical wonder their disposition, all in- 

 clined backward, the down about the stem, the 



