DIVISIONS OF BIRDS. 



293 



in the order Cursores, are so different from one another, that they 

 may be regarded as forming divisions of equal, or nearly equal, value 

 to the " orders " which form the sub-class CarinaUe. 



SUB-CLASS II. CARINAT.E. 



This sub-class includes all the living Birds which have the power 

 of flight, and it therefore comprises the great majority of the entire 

 class of Aves. The Carinate Birds, however, are so similar to one 

 another in their general characters that they can with difficulty be 

 split up into minor sections. For our present purpose, however, 

 we may divide them into the six orders of the Swimming Birds 

 {Natatores), the Waders {Grallatores), the Scratch ers (Rasores), the 

 Climbers {Sca7isores), the Perchers (Tnsessores), and the Birds of 

 Prey (Rrxptores), which orders are more or less natural groups, with 

 the exception of the order Scaiisores. 



Order I. Natatores. 



The order of the Swimming Birds comprises birds which are as 

 much at home in the water as u]3on land, or even more s(j. In 



Fig. 20S.— A, Head of the Grey Lag Goo,se. B, Foot of the Domestic Goo.se. 



accordance with their aqiiatic mode of life, the Natatores have 

 a boat-shaped body, generally elongated, and usually having a 

 20 



