INTRODUCTION. XXV 



quarrelsome, more especially at the season of pairing ; and 

 the males of polygamous birds are well known for their 

 fighting propensities. In this country a fine breed of 

 Cocks is kept for fighting, and Quails, Bulbuls, and 

 other birds, are also frequently trained for that purpose. 

 In some of the genus Turnix the hen birds are the most 

 quarrelsome, as they are the largest and most richly co- 

 lored of the two sexes. 



Birds contribute to the gratification of man in other 

 ways than by their charming song. Falcons and Hawks 

 are trained to the chase of birds and even of animals ; 

 Pelicans and Cormorants to fisli ; and many others are 

 tamed, and exhibit some peculiar habits, such as the 

 Bayas, which will pick an ornament off the forehead of a 

 sweet-heart, or recover a ring dropped down a well. 



The ignorant and superstitious of most nations take 

 many omens from the flight and actions of birds. 



Before giving an account of the classification of birds, 

 a few words on what a species and variety are considered 

 to be, may not be out of place here. 



A species may be defined as a number of individuals 

 closely resembling one another in size, structure, and 

 colors, and propagating a like race ; or, it may be said to be 

 the whole of those individuals that resemble each other so 

 closely, as to lead us to conclude that they may have de- 

 scended from a common origin. Some add to this th^t indi- 

 viduals of one species are incapable of producing a fertile 

 ofi'spring when crossed with individuals of another species ; 

 but late observations should make us cautious in accepting 

 this character as fixed and unvarying. 



A variety is considered by some, as one or more indivi- 

 duals resembling certain other individuals sufficiently to 

 be considered identical in species, and yet differing in 



d 



