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remarks on the study of our ornithology, which presents a wide field for the 

 instructive entertainment, even of those who do not enjoy the advantage of 

 much out-of-door occupation, as diligent investigation will repay those who are 

 disposed to devote time and attention to its careful consideration. The 

 tegumentary system of birds is so remarkable and beautiful a feature, amongst 

 the glories of Nature's handiwork, as at once to call for observation, the most 

 heedless must be attracted by the exquisite arrangement of form and colour. 

 Although man's chief interest in the feathered tribes centres, in the fact of 

 their furnishing him with delicate and luxurious varieties of food, or amusement, 

 and a mild excitement in the way of sport ; yet several species are so lovely in 

 their gorgeous trappings, that birds of many kinds are kept in a semi-domestic 

 state, merely for the gratification their beauty imparts to the beholder. Vast 

 numbers, more fortunate perhaps, are eagerly pursued and slain, not for 

 economical purposes of supplying food or clothing, but that their rifled plumes 

 may be worn as articles of personal adornment. Human vanity has long since 

 established this custom so universally that neither age, sex or race appears 

 exempt, and the chief of a Maori tribe doubtless feels as much pride in his 

 feathered head-dress plucked from the beautiful train of the snow-white 

 Kotuku, as the bedizened wearer of ostrich plumes, whether a prince or a 

 peeress of one of the most civilized nations of Europe. 



The Parroquet may be frequently observed in confinement, and the Tui, 

 liveliest of our Meliphagidse, quite as often perhaps barred within the limits of 

 a dirty cage, has to exchange, for the dewy nectar of fresh bush flowers, a 

 monotonous diet of soaked bread or biscuit, and for this unpalateable dole the 

 unfortunate prisoner for life is expected to be lively and gay. The Maories of 

 the South Island have long prepared the Mutton-bird, as a dainty article of 

 food. 



What can be more wonderful than the development from the inert 

 contents of an egg, of so sprightly a creature as a bird ; if we were not 

 familiarized with this admirable and curious process of nature, it would be 

 deemed miraculous ; it really appears typical of the Creation, and this must 

 have been felt, where the egg was looked upon as the symbol of the renovation 

 of the living world, and the custom was introduced, of suspending an egg in 

 Eastern Churches. A writer on the monasteries of the East says, " as the egg 

 contains the elements of life, it was thought to be an emblem of the ark, in 

 which were preserved the rudiments of the future world." 



Passing over the embryological age, the period of incubation which 

 represents the term of gestation amongst mammals, and the growth of the 

 young in all its stages of dependence, our attention is arrested by the anatomical 

 structure of this class of vertebrates. The peculiar arrangement of the osseous 

 and muscular systems, from whence the power of locomotion in all their 

 admirable variety are derived, should be carefully considered, flying, walking, 

 hopping, climbing, swimming, or diving, from the constant exercise of which, 

 birds depend for safety, or obtain their food supply. 



A transient glance at the structure of their skulls and beaks will satisfy 

 the enquirer how happily their forms are adapted for the habits and varying 

 conditions of the life of different species. The strong hooked beak of 

 Nestor, by the help of which it rapidly ascends the stems or branches of trees, 

 is sufficiently powerful to rend down long strips of tough bark, such as that of 

 Fagus solandri ; the soft bill of Hymenolaimus enables it to secure small 

 aquatic insects, caddis worms, etc., in the mountain creek ; the slender curved 

 mandibles of Recurvirostra are fitted for thrusting into the oozy slime of the 

 swampy marsh ; with its strong beak, the cosmopolitan Haamatopus readily 

 breaks the shell-armour of the various bivalves that pave the tide- washed mud 

 flats of our harbours ; the reason for the lateral curvature of the beak of the 



