218 BIRDS. 



is by means of this protection, that the eagle is enabled to 

 look steadily at the sun. 



Sparrows [Pas' seres) form the most extensive and nume- 

 rous order, embracing a great variety of species, which differ 

 so much among themselves, as to be hardly capable of an 

 intelligible description, common to them all. To this order 

 belong those species which are most celebrated for the sweet- 

 ness and harmony of their notes ; and in general the organ 

 of voice in them is larger and better formed, than in any 

 others. Among them are the robin, the swallow, the linnet, 

 the humming-bird, and the nightingale. 



The third order {Scanso'rcs, Climbers) includes those birds 

 that have the external toe upon each side turned backwards, 

 which enables them to grasp substances more firmly, and 

 affords them a more sure support, than other birds. Among 

 them are the woodpecker,, the cuckoo, and the parrot. 

 Woodpeckers are furnished with a long and slender tongue, 

 covered towards its tip with spines or bristles, which are 

 turned backwards, and coated with a thick viscid secretion. 

 They run in every direction around the trunks and branQ,hes 

 of trees, striking them with their beaks, and thrusting their 

 tongues into holes and clefts, for the purpose of drawing oUt 

 their food. 



The Gallinaceous birds [Gallina' cecs) have short and weak 

 wings, and, of course, they are not constructed for long and 

 continued flight. Of this order are the peacock, the turkey, 

 the pigeon and the common fowls. The pigeons form in 

 some particulars an exception to the general characteristics 

 of their order. They fly very well, live in pairs, and build 

 their nests upon trees or in the clefts of rocks. The most 

 remarkable species among them is the crowned pigeon of 

 the Molucca islands, which is equal in size to a turkey. Its 

 voice is exceedingly loud and harsh, "and is said to have 

 frightened sailors who landed on the islands which it in- 

 habits, by its resemblance to the yells of the savage natives. 



The Waders {Gral'lce,) otherwise called shore birds are 

 distinguished by their very long and naked legs, which per- 

 mit them to wade to a considerable depth in the water with- 

 out wetting their feathers. All birds with this structure are 

 not, properly speaking, waders in their habits, though they 

 are ranked in this order. Among them are the heron, plo- 

 ver, oxeye. and ostrich. The ostrich is almost incapable of 



