CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



INTRODUCTION 1 



CHAPTER I. Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. 

 Tables of Classification. Directions for their Appli- 

 cation 5 



CHAPTER II. Structure of Birds. External Structure. 

 Skeleton. Character of Beak. Bones, their Lightness. 

 Solidity of Backbone. Breastbone, Use of. Whig- 

 bones. Legs, Peculiarities of. When resting on one 

 leg, why Birds do not fall 26 



CHAPTER III. Internal Structure. Digestive Organs. 

 Gullet, Crop, Stomach Adaptation of, to different habits 

 of Birds. Gastric Juice Its use and properties. 

 Gizzard, its grinding powers. Respiration of Birds . 42 



CHAPTER IV. Organs of Sound. Ducks, Crane, Goat- 

 Sucker, Bell-Bird, &c. Distance at which Sounds may 

 be heard. Plumage. Structure of Feathers. Goose- 

 Plucking. Summer and Winter Plumage . . . . 56 



CHAPTER V. Flight. Muscular power of Wings. Peculi- 

 arity of, in different Birds. Adapted to various habits. 

 Rapidity of motion, and rate of How calculated. 

 Long continuance of Flight accounted for. Migration, 

 causes of. Tendency of most Birds to wander at par- 

 ticular times. Why seldom seen in the act of Migrating 

 Instinctive power of finding their way 70 



