﻿174} ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



in temperate and uncertain climates like our own ; or 

 where there was little or no sand to protect them from 

 observation and external injury. Hence it is that 

 nature has endowed these little architects with an 

 instinctive knowledge of fabricating temporary abodes, 

 which are often patterns of skill and contrivance ; and, 

 when we consider the fabricators, almost miracles of 

 execution. And yet this faculty, like most others, is 

 neither given to all, or in the same degree to such as 

 possess it. Hence we see as great a variety in the form 

 and construction of nests, as in the situations in which 

 they are placed. All writers on the subject have ob- 

 served this, which is indeed apparent even among our 

 native birds ; but no one seems to have had any idea 

 that in this infinite diversity, there is every reason to 

 believe as much order and system exists as can be found 

 in the form and structure of the birds themselves. 

 Some birds build in trees, some upon the ground, some 

 beneath the surface, and some not at all. Each of these 

 again present us with a diversity of operations, of forms, 

 and of circumstances, all calculated to display that end- 

 less and astonishing variety which gives such a charm 

 to creation, and silently, though emphatically, speaks of 

 its great and wonderful Author. 



(150.) We shall commence our remarks on the sub- 

 ject with such birds as build their nests upon trees, and 

 which may be therefore termed arboreal. Of these 

 there are many sorts, differing both in form, construc- 

 tion, and situation. Now as this art is one of the grand 

 characteristics of the feathered creation, we are naturally 

 led, by analogy of reasoning, to expect that it will be most 

 conspicuous in that particular order which shows us, in 

 every other quality, the perfection of the class. In this 

 we shall not be disappointed ; for the most elaborately 

 constructed nests are those of the Insessorial birds ; that 

 order, in fact, which is pre-eminent both in faculties, 

 in song, and in building. Previous, however, to enter- 

 ing upon this extensive order, we shall briefly notice that 

 of the Raptores, or birds of prey, premising that in 



