12 CLASS AVES. 



One is struck first with the palmated feet, that is, 

 when the toes are united by membranes, a character 

 which distinguishes all the swimming birds. The po- 

 sition of these feet behind ; the length of the sternum, 

 the neck often longer than the legs, to reach downward, 

 the plumage close, shining, impermeable to water, 

 agree with the feet in constituting the web-footed 

 fowls good swimmers. 



In other birds_, which also have frequently some 

 small webs to the feet, at least between the external 

 toes, we observe elevated tarsi, legs denuded of fea- 

 thers toward the base, a tall stature ; in one word, all 

 arrangements necessary for fording in shallow water, 

 for the purpose of seeking their food. Such, indeed, 

 is the regimen of the greater number of these ; and 

 although some of them live on dry land, they are 

 named Waders, or Grallce. 



Amongst the truly terrestrial birds, the gallinacea 

 have, like our domestic cock, a heavy carriage, 

 a short flight, the beak moderate, with the upper 

 mandible vaulted, the nostrils swelling out, and partly 

 covered by a soft scale, and almost always the edges 

 of the toes indented with short membranes between 

 the bases of those before. They live principally on 

 grain. 



The birds of iwey have the beak crooked, with the 

 point sharp, and bent toward the base ; and the nos- 

 trils pierced in a membrane, which invests all the base 

 of the beak ; the feet are armed with strong nails. 

 They live on flesh, and pursue other birds ; hence 

 they have generally a powerful flight. The greater 



