84 ZOOLOGT. 



We have elsewhere remarked, that these Birds arrive in 

 this country from the South in Spring, and return the same 

 route in the Autumn. (See British Ornithology^ under 

 the head Swallow.) 



This Class is divided into nine orders, the characters of 

 which are dravrn from the structure of their Bills, Tongues, 

 and Feet: they are also further divided into Land-Birds, 

 Waders, and Water-Birds. 



Division I. LAND-BIRDS. 



ORDER 1. 



Accipitres. — Rapacious. 



The characters of this Order are, a hooked bill, upper 

 mandible either dilated near the tip, or notched; nostrils 

 pervious ; legs strong ; feet formed for perching ; toes three 

 forward and one backward ; claws long and sharp. This 

 order, according to Linnasus, consisted of four genera, the 

 genus Serpentabius is of modern date, and we have ventured 

 to add a sixth, the genus Parus; considering that it has every 

 claim to be classed with other Birds of prey ; as our native 

 species of this family are all (with perhaps the exception of 

 P. biarmicus, the Bearded Titmouse,) at constant war 

 with such small birds as they can master, frequently at- 

 tacking Birds nearly twice their own bulk. We have known 

 the P. coeruleus, the Blue Titmouse, attack a Canary- 

 BiRD, (Fringilla Canaria,) Avhich had escaped from a cage ; 

 and though we observed its escape, and not more than three 



