BIRDS IN GENERAL. SI 



t kite, from an almost imperceptible height in the clouds, darts down 

 on its prey with the most unerring aim. The sight of birds, therefore, 

 exceeds what we know in most other animals, and excels them both iu 

 strength and precision. 



All birds want the external ear rtanding out from the head ; they 

 are only furnished with holes that convey sounds to the auditory canal. 

 It is true, indeed, that tne horned owl, and one or two more birds, 

 seem to have external ears ; but what bears that resemblance are only 

 leathers sticKing out on each side of the head, but no way necessary 

 to the sense of hearing. It is probable, however, that the feathers 

 encompassing the ear-holes in birds, supply the defect of the exterior 

 ear, and collect sounds to be transmitted to the internal sensory. The 

 extreme delicacy of this organ is easily proved by the readiness with 

 which birds learn tunes, or repeat words, and the great exactness of 

 their pronunciation. 



The sense of smelling seems not less vivid in the generality of 

 birds. Many of them wind their prey at an immense distance, while 

 others are equally protected by this sense against their insidious pur- 

 suers. In decoys, where ducks are caught, the men who attend them 

 universally keep a piece of turf burning near their mouths, upon which 

 they breathe, lest the fowl should smell them, and consequently fly 

 away. The universality of this practice puts the necessity of it be- 

 yond a doubt, and proves the extreme delicacy of the sense of smell- 

 ing, at least in this species of the feathered creation. 



Next to the parts for flight, let us view the legs and feet minister- 

 ing to motion. They are both made light for the easier transporta- 

 tion through the air. The toes in some are webbed, to fit them for 

 the waters ; in others, they are separate, for the better holding ob- 

 jects, or clinging to trees for safety. Such as have long legs have also 

 long necks, as otherwise they would be incapable of gathering up 

 their food, either by land or water. But it does not hold, however, 

 that those who have long necks should have long legs, since we see 

 that swans and geese, whose necks are extremely long, have very 

 short legs, and these chiefly employed in swimming. 



Thus every external part, hitherto noticed, appears adapted to the 

 life and situation of the animal ; nor are the inward parts, though less 

 immediately appropriated to flight, less necessary to safety. The 

 bones of every part of the body are extremely light and thin ; and all 

 the muscles, except that immediately moving the wings, extremely 

 slight and feeble. The tail, which is composed of quill feathers, 

 serves to counterbalance the head and neck ; it guides the animal's 

 flight, like a rudder, and greatly assists it either in its ascent, or when 

 descending. 



If we go on to examine birds internally, we shall find the same 

 wonderful conformation fitting them for a life in air, and increasing 

 the surface by diminishing the solidity. In the first place, their lungs, 

 which are commonly called the sole, stick fast to the sides of the ribs 

 and back, and can be very little dilated or contracted. But to make 

 up for this, which might impede their breathing, the ends of tiie 

 branches of the wind-pipe open into them, while these have openings 

 into the cavity of the belly, and convey the air drawn in by breathing 



