ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Page 



I. OBJECT AN-D ORIGIJJ. Imperfections of elementary 

 books Proofs from the case of the Author From 

 others Resolution to remove the imperfections- 

 Causes of the cheapness of this work . . . 1 11 

 II. STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Two ways of acquiring 

 knowledge Advantages of observation Its limits 

 Books Their advantages Universality of scientific 

 books The river of knowledge " Knowledge is 

 power" Grand object in studying nature Element- 

 ary books on Natural History Faults of their plans 

 Their execution We begin with the end Few know 

 anything of birds THE FAULT MUST BE IK THE BOOKS 

 Pleasure of the knowledge of nature Real value 

 We never forget what we once know Birds are the 

 keys to natural knowledge Mischief of beginning 

 with the details Advantages of the analytical method 

 in knowing in acting .... 1227 



III. PREFATORY NOTICE. Some preliminary knowledge 

 desirable What makes a book enticing Details 

 avoided, and why Notice of the chapters . . 2832 



CHAPTER I. 



DISTINCTIONS OF BIRDS. 



BIRD. Definition Character of birds' eggs Of the consist- 

 ency of their bodies Of their covering Feathers and 

 feathered scales Naked wings Scaly wings Feathered 

 wings Action of the air on feathers " Holding on" 

 Flight cannot be imitated Long and short flights Mam- 

 malia compared with birds Mistakes Difficulties in un- 

 derstanding the motions of birds Reasons of these diffi- 

 cultiesSystematic arrangements . . . 3848 



