OF NATURAL HISTORY. 77 



There is another tribe of aquatic birds, fome of which feed upon 

 fiflies and infeds, and others live principally by fucking certain 

 juices from mud. Both thefe kinds frequent marfhy places, or the 

 margins of lakes and rivers. They do not fwim, but wade, in quell 

 of food. This Angularity in their manners required a correfpon- 

 dent variation in their form and ftrudure. To enable them to wade 

 in waters and in mires, Nature has provided them with longs legs, 

 naked of feathers for a confiderable fpace above the knees. Their 

 toes are not, like thofe of the fwimmers, conneded by continued 

 membranous webs. Moft of them have likewife very ong necks 

 and bills, to enable them to fearch for and apprehend their food. 

 To thefe tribes belong the crane, the herons, the bittern or mire- 

 drum, the ftork, the fpoon-biil, the woodcock, the fnipe, and many 

 other fpecies. 



Having given a general idea of the ftrudure and oeconomy o£ 

 birds, we fhall next make a few remarks on the form and manners, 

 of fifties. 



OF THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANS OF FISHES. 



It is one great and benevolent intention of Nature, that no part 

 of the univerfe ftiould be deprived of inhabitants. The earth, the 

 air, the waters, are full of living beings, who are not only confcious 

 of their exiftence, but enjoy degrees of happinefs proportioned to 

 their natures, ^and the purpofes they are deftined to anfwer in the 

 general fcale of animation. The different elements in which they 

 live neceffarily required a variety in their form, their food, and their 

 manners. The inhabitants of the earth and air have already been 

 partially defcribed : Thofe of the waters are next to be confidered. 



• The 



