BIRDS IN GENERAL. 43 



for tie i nrposes of running, grasping, or climbing. On the other 

 hand, water-fowl have their legs and feet formed for the purposes of 

 *vading in water, or swimming on its surface. In those that wade, the 

 >gs are usually long aiid naked ; in those that swim, the toes ar^ 

 w ebbed together, as we see in the feet of a goose, which serve, like 

 oars, to drive them forward with greater velocity. The formation, 

 therefore, of land and water-fowl, is as distinct as their habits ; and 

 nature herself seems to offer us this obvious distribution, in methodi- 

 zing animals of the feathered creation. 



However, a distinction so comprehensive, goes but a short way in 

 illustrating the different tribes of so numerous a class. The number 

 of birds already known, amounts to nearly three thousand ; and every 

 person who turns his mind to these kind of pursuits, is every day 

 adding to the catalogue. It is not enough, therefore, to be able to 

 distinguish a land from a water-fowl ; much more is still required to 

 be able to distinguish the different kinds of birds from each other ; 

 and even the varieties in the same kind, when they happen to offer. 

 This certainly is a work of great difficulty ; and perhaps the attain- 

 ment will not repay the labour. The sensible part of mankind will 

 not withdraw all their attention from more important pursuits, to give 

 it entirely up to what promises to repay them only with a very con- 

 fined species of amusement. In my distribution of birds, therefore, I 

 will follow Linnaeus in the first sketch of his system ; and then leav*> 

 him, to follow the most natural distinctions, in enumerating the diffe* 

 ent kinds that admit of a history, or require a description. 



Linnaeus divides all birds into six classes ; namely, into birds of the 

 rapacious kind, birds of the pie kind, birds of the poultry kind birds 

 of the sparrow kind, birds of the duck kind, and birds of the crane 

 kind. The four first comprehend the various kinds of land birds ; 

 the two last, those that belong to the water. 



Birds of the rapacious kind, constitute that class of carnivorous 

 fowl that live by rapine. He distinguishes them by their beak, which 

 is hooked, strong, and notched at the point ; by their legs, which are- 

 short and muscular, and made for the purposes of tearing ; by their 

 toes, which are strong and knobbed ; and their talons, which are sharp 

 and crooked ; by the make of their body, which is muscular ; and 

 their flesh, which is impure : nor are they less known by their food, 

 which consists entirely of flesh ; their stomach, which is membranous ; 

 and their manners, which are fierce and cruel. 



Birds of the pie kind have the bill differing from the former : as in 

 those it resembled a hook, destined for tearing to pieces ; in these it 

 resembles a wedge, fitted for the purpose of cleaving. Their legs are 

 formed short and strong, for walking ; their body is slender and im- 

 pure, and their food miscellaneous. They nestle in trees ; and the 

 male feeds the female during the time of incubation. 



Birds of the poultry kind have the bill a little convex, for the pui 

 poses of gathering their food. The upper chap hangs over *he lower , 

 their bodies are fat and muscular, and their flesh white and puro. 

 They live upon grain, which is moistened in the crop. They maka 

 their nest on the ground, without art ; they lay many eggs, and usa 

 piom'iscuous veuerv * 



