y6 THE PHILOSOPHY 



The analogy between the ftruflure of rapacious birds and carni- 

 vorous quadrupeds is obvious. Both of them are provided with 

 weapons which indicate deftru£tion and rapine. Their manners, are 

 alfo fierce and unfocial. They never, if the vulture be excepted, 

 herd together in flocks, like the inoffenfive granivorous tribes. 

 When not on the wing, they conceal themfelves on the tops of fe- 

 queftered rocks, or in the depths of the forefts, where they fpend 

 their time in fullen folitude. Thofe of them which feed upon cati- 

 on, as the raven, have the fenfe of fmelling fo acute, that they fcenS 

 dead carcafTes at amazing diftances. 



Befide thefe great divifions of birds into granivorous and rapaci- 

 ous, whofe manners and difpofitions perfedtly coincide with the 

 ftrufture of their bodies, there are other tribes to whom Nature has 

 given peculiar organs. In all thefe deviations from the common 

 ftrudure, a Angularity in the mode of living, and the oecoaomy of 

 the animal, is the invariable refult. 



Like the amphibious animals, a number of fowls live chiefly in 

 the water, and feed upon fifhcs and aquatic infedts. To enable them 

 to fwim. and to dive in queft of food, their toes are conneded to- 

 gether by broad membranes or webs. By ftretching their toes, and 

 ftriking the water backward with thefe webs, their bodies are mo- 

 Ted forward, and they employ their tail as a rudder to dire£t their 

 courfe. Without thefe additional inftruments, fowls could not fwim; 

 and, accordingly, fuch birds as are not provided with webs never 

 take to the water. But thofe furnifhed with webs have fuch a 

 ftrong propenfity to water, that, when reftrained from their favou- 

 rite element, they difcover the greateft uneafinefs, and, when their 

 liberty is reftored, they fly in a dire£t courfe either to the fea, a ri- 

 ver, or a lake. 



There 



