280 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



in the Ostrich (fig. 52) Cassowary, Penguin, &c., while in the 

 "Apteryx" (fig. 52) they are quite absent. 



Birds are covered with a peculiar modification of hair 

 known as feathers ; these consist of a central shaft with 

 closely-set diverging branches, some of which have others 

 branching from them with a serrated surface, giving them that 

 peculiar metallic brilliancy so well shown in the feathers of 

 the Humming Bird. Birds are furnished with beaks of 

 almost every form, to suit their method of feeding, &c., and 

 likewise feet, sometimes furnished with sharp and powerful 

 talons, at others, feet suitable to climb with, and again in 

 some they are webbed between the toes, so as to enable 

 them to swim with great rapidity. 



Birds are divided into five orders, as follows : 



1. RAPTORES (Preying) Eagle, Owl, &c. 



2. INSESSORES (Perching), divided into 4 tribes, viz: 



1. Dentirostres (Tooth bill) Thrush, Butcher-bird. 



2. Conirostres (Cone bill) Raven, Crow, Finch. 



3. Scansores (Climbing) Parrot, Wood-pecker. 



4. Pissirostres (Split'bill) King Fisher, Goat-sucker. 



3. RASORES (Scraping) Poultry, Pheasants, &c. 



4. GRALLATORES (Wadirip) Heron, Crane, &c. 



5. NATATORES (Swimming) Goose, Duck, &c. 



1. The BAPTORES, as the Eagles and Falcons, are furnished 

 with hooked beaks and strong sharp talons (fig. 53), they prey 

 upon all small animals, as birds of less strength, rabbits, &c., 

 and sorna of them upon fish, as the Osprey, others feed upon 

 dead flesh and offal, as the Vultures, and are very useful 

 creatures in hot countries, where they are generally respected, 

 they hover about the towns, feeding upon almost everything 

 capable of being swallowed ; it is not certain whether these 

 birds detect the presence of food by smell or sight (both of 

 these senses are possessed by them in perfection), but it is 

 certain that in the desert, when any animal dies, these birds 

 soon make their appearance, although a few minutes before 

 not one could be seen for miles around. The Owls 

 are nocturnal, their plumage is downy, and their eyes placed 

 so that both shall look forwards, the pupils close, similarly to 

 a cat's eye, and their vision, like the cats (their companions 



