4i8 3 I R D S. 



H A R A C T E R g 



r-O-F THE 



R D E R S OP BIRDS. 



1. ACCTPITRES, or RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 



THE bill is fomewhat crooked downwards, having the upper mandible either dilated 

 adit tie towards the point, or armed with a tooth-like proeefs ; and the noflrils are 

 open. — The legs are fhort and ftrong ; the feet are of the kind called perching, having 

 three toes forwards, and one backwards; the toes are warty under the joints; the claws 

 are hooked and very fharp at the points. — The body, head, and neck, are very mufcu- 

 lar ; and the fkin is very tough. The animals of this order live by preying on other 

 animals, and on dead carcaffes; and their flefli is unfit to be eaten. They live in pairs, 

 and build their nefts in lofty places ; the female is generally larger and ftronger than 

 the male, and ufually has four eggs each brood. 



•II. PI CJE, or PI ES. 



The bill is fharp edged, and convex on its upper furface. — The legs are fhort, ftrong- 

 jfii, and of different kinds, fome perchers, fome climbers, and fome fitted for walking, 

 that is, having np back toe. — The body is firmly conftru&ed.— The birds of this order 

 live on various kinds of food, and are moftly reckoned unfit for food. They pair in 

 the breeding feafon, building fcheir nefts on trees ; and the male feeds the female du- 

 ring the proeefs of incubation, or hatching. 



III. PALMIPEDES, or WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



* Having long legs. 



The body is conical and fomewhat flattened. — The thighs are naked on their lower 



halves ; the legs are very long ; the feet are fitted for wading ; and the toes are only 



connected together at their pofterior parts by a membrane, femipalmati. — Thefe birds 



moftly pair in breeding time, and build their nefts on the ground. They feed in the 



water 



