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O F T HE 



DISTINCTIONS of BIRDS. 



THE legs and toes diftlnguifh land from water fowl. Land 

 birds have divided toes, without any membranes between 

 them. Thofe that wade, have legsufually long and naked ; thofc 

 that fvvim, have the toes webbed together: thefe are leading diftinc- 

 tions of nature itfelf. 



Land birds of the rapacious kind, have a large head, a ftrong 

 crooked beak, notched at the end ; ftrong (hort legs, and fharp 

 crooked talons; bodies fibrous and mufcuiar; wings well fea- 

 thered and expandve. The fight of fuch as prey by day is afto- 

 nifhingly quick; and fuch as ravage by night fee objects in obscu- 

 rity with extreme precihon. 



Formed for war, they lead a life of fblitude and rapacity. 

 Their flercenefs extends even to their young, which they force 

 from the neft, at a time when they ftill fliould protcd: and fupport 

 them. 



Birds of prey are remarkable for one lingularity. The males are 

 a third lefs, and weaker than the females. Hence the male is 

 called by falconers, a tiercel\ a tierce or third lefs than the other. 

 The females are of greater fize, more beautiful and lovely for 

 fhape and colours, ftronger, more fierce and generous, than the 

 males: probably it is necelfary for the female to be thus fuperior, 

 that fhe may efficaciouily proted: herfelf, and her young, not only 

 from enemies, but from the male himfelf; fince it is out of 

 her power to fecrete them, as we have feen the females of beafts 

 of prey. Otherwife perhaps fbme accefsof fury from diiplealure 

 or delpair might prompt him to dcftroy them. 



