LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY. 303 



Scald a bird and remove its feathers; notice if the feathers were 

 uniformly distributed over the body; notice if they are dis- 

 tributed in the same way on different kinds of birds. After 

 removing the feathers dissect the digestive, respiratory and cir- 

 culatory organs, and dissect the brain and the sense organs. 

 Study the development of the chick from day to day, breaking 

 the egg into blood-warm water for observation. Study birds in 

 every way. 



The Natatores or Swimming Birds. These birds are clothed 

 with a thick compact plumage and a heavy coat of down, and 

 are supplied with a large oil gland. They are excellent swimmers 

 and divers, and usually strong flyers. The beak varies from the 

 strong cutting beak of the fish-eater to the soft yielding beak of 

 birds who live on infusoria. They are usually gregarious on the 

 seacoast or on large inland waters. Some species are valuable 

 for food and other purposes. To this group belong the penguins 

 with their fin-like wings, the auks, divers, swans, ducks, geese, 

 pelicans, gulls, the albatross and stormy petrel. 



The Grallatores or Wading Birds. These birds have a long 

 beak, long neck and long legs, and are adapted for taking snails, 

 larvae, worms, frogs, fish and other materials for food from the 

 mud of shallow waters. They are mostly migratory birds, some 

 of them being highly prized for food. The plover, snipe, heron, 

 stork, rail and water hen belong to this group. 



The GalHnacese. These are terrestrial birds, having stout 

 bodies and rounded wings not well adapted to flight. The legs 

 are strong, of medium length and well fitted for running and 

 scratching. To this group belong turkeys, domestic fowls, 

 grouse, quail and partridge. 



The Columbinas or Pigeons. These birds are all of medium 

 size, small heads and short legs, with soft beaks swollen about 

 the nasal openings. They have long, pointed wings well fitted for 

 sustained flight. They live on grains and seeds, and their 

 plumage is often beautiful. To this group belong the pigeons and 

 doves, and the lately extinct dodo was a member of the group. 



The Scansorial or Climbing Birds. These birds in general have 



