Birds. 



THE birds of India are as beautiful as they are 

 numerous. There are hundreds of species, a 

 detailed description of them all is therefore im- 

 possible within the limits of the present work. 

 The Israelites divided birds into two classes 

 clean and unclean, and in common life this 

 arrangement may be said to be still followed. 



According to scientific arrangement, birds are 

 divided into eight different orders : 



i. Scansores, or Climbers; 2. Raptores, or 

 Birds of Prey ; 3. Insessores, or Perchers ; 4. 

 Gemitores, or Pigeons ; 5. Rasores, or Game 

 Birds ; 6. Cursores, or Running Birds ; 7. 

 Grallatores, or Waders ; 8. Natatores, or Swim- 

 ming Birds. 



Perhaps the choicest of them all are those of 

 the Himalayan pheasant tribe birds distinguished 

 for their very graceful and rich plumage, and 

 the beautiful paradise birds of the Eastern 

 Archipelago. The Himalayan bustard is remark- 

 able for its form and for its varied colours. 



