I 



MODE OP DETERMINING A SPECIES. 363 



divisions of birds, to see under which it will come. In 

 this there is no difficulty. The structure of its toes, 

 three before and one behind ; and this latter resting 

 on the same level with the others, shows at once that 

 it belongs to the order of Insessores, or perchers. Now, 

 as this order is again divided, you carefully look over 

 the next set of divisions, namely, the Dentirostres, or 

 toothed-biUed ; the Conirostres, or conic-billed ; the 

 Scansores, or climbers ; the Tenuirostres, or honey- 

 suckers ; and the Fissirostres, or swallows. Now, here 

 perhaps, you wiU have some difficulty in deciding 

 whether your bird belongs to the Conirostres or the 

 Dentirostres ; because, in some measure, it unites the 

 characters of the two. Its somewhat conic bill, with- 

 out a notch, seems at variance with one of the chief 

 characters of the Dentirostres ; but then its small size, 

 animal food, sharp curved claws, and climbing toes, are 

 in its favour; and, therefore, the preponderance of its 

 characters decides the question. At the same time, you 

 perceive that, as it has not all the dentirostral characters, 

 it must belong to one of the aberrant divisions ; in other 

 words, to the warblers. To the family of Syluiadce you 

 accordingly turn : and here you find a division (or sub- 

 family) called Pariana, characterised by their facility 

 of climbing, a habit which exactly tallies with your bird. 

 To this division, therefore, you refer ; and there the very 

 first genus you meet with is Parus, defined as having 

 a compressed conic entire bill, strong feet, inner toe 

 shorter than the outer, long, curved, and sharp hind 

 claw, and wings with the third, fourth, and fifth quills of 

 equal length ; all this answering precisely to the bird 

 before you. All that now remains is to ascertain the 

 species, which depends upon the colour of the plumage. 

 Thus, you have traced your bird through the order, 

 tribe, family, sub-family, and genus to which it belongs; 

 and, having found its specific and common name, you 

 may read its particular history in any of the authors who 

 have written upon the species. 



(449.) Such is the plan of study and mode of investi- 



