14 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



our subject has to do), is again subdivided into five classes,, 

 namely Mammalia, or animals which suckle their young, 

 Birds, Reptiles, Amphibia, and Fishes. In the second of 

 these classes, Birds, we are solely, at present, interested ; 

 arid these it may be sufficient to trace through their several 

 orders, groups, and families; omitting particular reference 

 to their genera and species. The Orders as arranged in 

 the present volume are : 



1st. The Raptor es, or Birds of Prey; including the three 

 very distinct families of Vultures, Falcons, and Owls. 



2nd. The Insessores, or Perching Birds ; which contains 

 four groups; each group including several families. The 

 first group is that of the Dentiro&tres, or Tooth-billed Birds ; 

 in which the Shrikes, Thrushes, Warblers, Chatterers, and 

 Fly-catchers are included as families. The second group, 

 of Conirostres, or Cone-beaked Birds, includes the Crows, 

 Starlings, Finches, Hornbills, and Crossbills. The third 

 group, of Fissirostres, or Cleft-beaked Birds, comprises the 

 Swallows, Goat-suckers, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, and Todies. 

 The fourth group, of Tennirostres, or Slender-billed Birds, 

 contains the Humming-birds, the Sun-birds, the Hoopoes, 

 the Birds of Paradise, the Honey-suckers, and the Creepers. 



3rd. The next Order is that of the Scansores, or Climbing 



