V 



ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Page 

 I. Object and Origin. — Imperfections of elementary 

 books — Proofs from the case of the Author — From 

 others — Resolution to remove the imperfections — 

 Causes of the cheapness of this work . . . i— ii 

 II. Study of Natural History. — Two ways of acquiring 

 knowledge— Advantages of observation — Its limits — 

 Books — Their advantages— Universality of scientific 

 books — The river of knowledge — "Knowledge is 

 power" — Grand object in studying nature — Element- 

 ary books on Natural History — Faults of their plans — 

 Their execution — We begin with the end — Few know 

 anything of bu'ds — The fault must be in the Books 

 — Pleasure of the knowledge of nature— Real value— 

 We never forget what we once know — Birds are the 

 keys to natural knowledge — Mischief of beginning 

 with the details— Advantages of the analytical method 

 in knowing — in acting .... 12 — 27 



III. Prefatory Notice.— Some preliminary knowledge 

 desirable — W^hat makes a book enticing — Details 

 avoided, and why— Notice of the chapters . , 28 — 32 



CHAPTER I. 



DISTINCTIONS OF BIRDS. 



Bird.— Definition— Character of birds' eggs— Of the consist- 

 ency of their bodies — Of their covering — Feathers and 

 feathered scales — Naked wings — Scaly wings — Feathered 

 wings — Action of the air on feathers — "Holding on" — 

 Flight cannot be imitated — Long and short flights — Mam- 

 malia compared with birds — Mistakes — Difficulties in un- 

 derstanding the motions of birds — Reasons of these diffi-- 

 culties— Systematic arrangements . . . 3^—48 



