THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



SUB-KINGDOM VERTEBRATA. 

 CLASS U— AVES. 



CiaBsiflcation. The Birds are distinguished from the Mammals 

 by many obvious characteristics, chief among which are their 

 bodily form, their feathery covering and their manner of 

 producing their young by means of eggs. The Birds form 

 the second class of the sub-kingdom Vertebrata and according 

 to the classification followed in this work are divided into ten 

 orders. These orders cire, I Passeres : birds characterised by 

 the habit of perching ; II Picarise : birds that climb, etc. 

 Ill Psittacini: the Parrots; IV Columbae: the Doves; V 

 GalUnae : the Fowls ; VI Opisthocomi : the Hoazin of Brazil 

 and Guinea; VII Accipitres: the Birds of Prey; VIII Gralla- 

 tores : the birds that wade ; IX Anseres : the Birds that swim ; 

 X Struthiones: the Ostrich, the Emu, etc., etc. 



ORDER I '^^^ species of this order are very numerous, and 

 Perching have been variously divided by different authorities. 

 Birds. Mr. Wallace forms them into five groups, which 

 classification we shall find it convenient to follow. These 

 five groups are: I The Thrushes and Thrush-like perching 

 birds ; II The Tanagers and similar kinds ; III The Starlings 

 and allied species ; IV The Ant-eaters, etc., and V The Lyre 

 Birds, and the Scrub Birds of Australia. The first group 

 includes many well known feathered favourites: the Thrush; 

 the Blackbird; the Mocking Bird; the Tailor Bird; the 

 Wren; the Robin; the Nightingale; the Titmouse; the 



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