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NATURALISTS have arranged birds under six 

 orders. In each of these orders there are again 

 sub-divisions ; but, as we do not pretend to enter 

 into the minutiae of ornithology, we shall only no- 

 tice the six grand divisions, as forming the broad 

 outlines of the science. They are as follow : 



First Order Accipitres, or birds of prey. 



Second do. ~~~Passeres, including most of our birds of 



song, and many others. 

 Third do. ~ Scansores, or Climbers. 

 Fourth do. ~~~Gallinse, or such as resemble our domestic 



fowls. 



Fifth do. Grallse, or Waders. 



Sixth do. Palmipedes, or Swimmers. 



THE FIRST ORDER OF BIRDS. 



BIRDS OF PREY. ACCIPITRES. LINN. 



Are known by their bent beak and crooked talons ; very 

 powerful arms, by means of which they pursue other 

 birds, and even weak quadrupeds and reptiles. They 

 are among the birds, what the carnivora are among 

 quadrupeds. They form two families, the Diurnal and 

 Nocturnal Cnvier. 



