in four toes with curved claws. Three toes are 
usually directed forwards, and one backwards. 
Life is motion, and this is particularly the case 
with birds, which never rest, except when sleeping. 
Birds can run, hop, climb and swim, but their most 
characteristic movement is flight. Many birds are 
remarkable for not remaining always in the same 
locality. These are called birds of passage. Some 
visit warmer regions during winter, while others are 
only seen in our climate during the cold part of the 
year. Birds are driven to migrate through scarcity 
of food, and different species feed on different animal 
and vegetable substances. 
The senses of sight, hearing and smell are ex- 
ceedingly acute in most birds. Their senses of touch 
and taste are less remarkable, and are only well- 
developed in certain groups. But their perception 
of locality is most wonderful, for it enables them to 
find their way across sea and land to their breeding- 
places. 
bo 

The construction of their nests, the ease with 
which they accustom themselves to the presense of 
man, and their behaviour in captivity, exhibits an 
amount of intelligence only surpassed by that which 
we find among the highest mammals. Birds are 
found in all countries, and their feathery covering is 
especially adapted to their habits and surroundings. 
There are about 12,000 species of birds at 
present known. The Orders of Wading and Swim- 
ming Birds are the most numcrous. 
Birds may be divided into two great groups. 
In the first group, or Insessores, the young birds 
remain helpless in the nest for some time after they 
are hatched, and are fed by the parents. In the second 
group (Autophagz) the young birds leave the nest soon 
after they are hatched, and seck their own food under 
the guidance of the parent birds. The Insessores excel 
in flying and the Autophagi in running or swimming. 
Birds are divided into seven Orders, according 
to the structure of the beak and toes. 
Sketch of Orders of Birds. 
A. Insessores. 
a wax-like 

Beak curved. The upper mandible is clothed with 
skin or cere at the base, and curves over the lower mandible at the tip. The claws form 
Scansores (Climbing Birds). Beak except in the parrots without cere. Feet with sharp claws 
Beak ridged and very long. Feet fitted for walking. 
Beak tube-like or conical. Feet with sharp claws and fitted for 
Nostrils surrounded by a soft skin. Toes divided to 
B. Autophagi. 
Upper mandible of the beak overlapping the lower one 
Four toes, the three front ones slightly connected at the base and the 
Cursores (Running Birds). Wings short, unfitted for flying. Legs long and strong and adapted 
Toes webbed. 
Order I. Acczpitres (Birds of Prey). 
curving hooks. 
eed: 
and adapted for climbing. 
» Ill. Syxdactyle (Hornbills and Kingfishers), 
» IV. Fasseres (Singing Birds). 
walking or hopping. 
»  V. Columbe (Pigeons). Beak straight. 
the base. 
» VI. Galling (Poultry and Game-Birds). 
at the tip and sides. 
hind toe placed rather higher than the others. 
WANE 
for running. 
,, VIL. Grallatores (Wading Birds). Legs very long. 
» IX. Falmipedes (Swimming Birds). 
Toes webbed or provided with membranous appendages. 
