CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. Tables of Classification. 

 Directions for their Application. 



BIRDS form the second class in the great natural division 

 of the Animal Kingdom. They resemble the first class, 

 Mammalia (those that suckle their young), in some respects; 

 such as the general form of the skeleton, the mode of 

 breathing through lungs, &c. They differ from them by 

 being what is termed Oviparous, or producing their young 

 enclosed in eggs, in their outward form, in their feathery 

 covering, and in the structure of their mouths, which are 

 furnished with a horny bill, instead of lips and teeth; but 

 most particularly are they distinguished from other animals, 

 by being provided with wings. 



It is not our intention, as we have said, to treat the 

 subject in what is called a scientific manner, by entering 

 into details and particulars, more calculated for those who 

 have made it a matter of long study, than for the greater 

 number, probably, of our readers, who may have paid little 

 attention to it; but as it is our wish to be as extensively 

 useful as possible, we have drawn up the following Tables, 

 giving at a glance not only a general outline of the rules by 

 which Birds are classed, but at the same time enabling an 

 inexperienced person, with very little trouble, in most cases, 

 to make out for himself the genus, or family, of any specimen 

 which may be placed before him, and which he may wish to 

 describe. 



We are far from recommending these Tables as perfect, 

 or even the best that could be drawn up, and an experienced 

 student will, no doubt, find some of the subdivisions to be 

 defective; but, when the difficulty of any mode of classifica- 

 tion, so accurate and unexceptionable in all its details as 

 to meet every case, is considered, an approximation to the 

 truth is all that can be hoped for; and we trust that, for 



