BIRDS AND INSECTS. 303 



knowledge of the birds through the pores of my skin, through the air I 

 have breathed, through the soles of my feet, through the twinkle of the 

 leaves and the glint of the waters. I have gone a-fishing and read their 

 secrets out of the corners of my eyes. I have lounged under a tree, and 

 the book of their lives has been opened to me. I have hoed in my garden, 

 and read the histories they write in the air. Studied the birds? No. 1 

 have played with them, camped with them, gone berrying with them, 

 summered and wintered with them, and my knowledge of them has filtered 

 into my mind almost unconsciously. John Burroughs. 



Birds are one of the four classes of that branch of the 

 animal kingdom known as vertebrates. 



Birds are divided into several groups or orders, by reason of 

 certain well known characteristics of each order. 



Birds of prey (Accipiters). 



Divided into the following groups : 



Vulture (Vultur) as the Condor. 



Falcons (Falco) as, Falcons and Eagles, and Hawks. 



Owls (Strix) as, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl. 



Shrike (Lanius) as, Northern Shrike, Loggerhead Shrike. 

 Sparrows (Passeres) divided into the following groups: 



The Thrush Family, Robin, Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Hermit 

 Thrush, Catbird, etc. 

 Climbers (Scansores) 



Parrots (Psittacus). 



Woodpeckers (Picus). Red-Headed Woodpecker, Flicker. 

 Cuckoo (Cuculidae), Yellow-Billed, and Black-Billed Cuckoo. 

 Toucan. 



Gallinaceous (Gallinaceae). 

 Peacock (Pavonidae). 

 Turkey Wild and Domesticated. 

 Chicken (Common breeds). See Poultry. 

 Pheasant, as the Golden Pheasant and Silver Pheasant. 

 Partridge. Many different varieties. 

 Quail. Bob White and California Quail. 

 Pigeon. Passenger Pigeon, (now extinct.) 

 Waders (Grallae). 

 Ostrich. 

 Cassowary. 

 Flamingo. 

 Heron. 

 Spoonbill. 

 Plover. 

 Rail. 

 Woodcock. 



