194 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



the great class of Mammals into their various groups or natural 

 orders. 



We may mention the fact that the various attempted classifica- 

 tions are generally founded upon variations in the instruments by 

 vi^hich the birds mainly obtain their food, i.e. their beaks and feet, 

 or upon some internal differences. But we need not attempt to 

 consider these points of variation; that vi^ould be quite a labour, 

 as we can imagine, when we understand that over ten thousand 

 species of birds exist in the world. 



If we follow, so far as is necessary, the ORDERS which seem to 

 the revising editor of this little work most simply and naturally 

 suggested, we shall do very well ; and we shall have the satisfaction 

 of knowing that we are not led astray. 



Birds, as we have already learned, belong to the great division 

 or Sub-Kingdom in the animal world of the Vertebrata, so that 

 they are as much animals as horses or dogs, notwithstanding 

 vulgar opinion, and the advertisements of so-called naturalists, who 

 are " animal and bird stuffers "! The following list of Orders may 

 be regarded as the most successful classification of birds that has 

 been devised. It will help us to understand the true relationship 

 of the birds which we shall consider. Before proceeding we may 

 draw attention to the fact that some of the groups included in the 

 list are now extinct. 



ORDERS OF BIRDS 



1. Passeres — Perching Birds. 



2. PiCARi^ — Woodpeckers. Cuckoos, Hornbills, &c 



3. PsiTTACi — Parrots. 



4. Striges — Owls. 



5. Pandiones — Ospreys. 



6. Accipitres — Eagles, Falcons, Vultures, &c. 



7. Steganopodes — Pelicans, Cormorants, and Gannets. 



8. Herodiones — Herons and Storks. 



9. Odontogloss^ — Flamingoes. 



10. Anseres — Ducks, Geese, and Swans. 



1 1. PalamedejE — Screamers. 



