CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS AND REPTILES 



267 



developed from a reptile-like ancestor many ages ago. The 

 recently discovered eggs of the extinct dinosaurs are another link 

 in the chain of relationship. 



Practical Exercise 19. Make a comprehensive definition of a bird. What 

 evidences of relationship do you find between reptiles and birds? What 

 particular adaptations would you expect to find in a bird of prey ? A swim- 

 mer? A wader? 



Laboratory Exercise. Using the text as a guide, study a living 

 bird to find: (1) adaptations for flight; (2) for food getting; (3) for 

 protection. 



Ratitcte |CPasseres GaUteae TSaptores Cbaradnkfee 



Wdcrophires 



Svift,: 





climlSer^ parrots 



6acfpeckere cCove^ 



Order 1. Rati'tae. Running birds with no keeled breastbone. Examples : ostrich, casso- 

 wary. 

 Order 2. Pas'seres. Perching birds ; having three toes in front, one behind. Over one half 



of all species of birds are included in this order. Examples : a sparrow, thrush, swallow. 

 Order 3. Galli'nae. Strong legs, feet adapted to scratching. Beak stout. Examples: 



jungle fowl, grouse, quail, domestic fowl. 

 Order 4. Rapto'res. Birds of prey. Hooked beak. Strong claws. Examples : eagle, hawk, 



owl. 

 Order 5. Limicolae. An order of the shore birds, wings long, thin, flat, and pointed. Legs 



usually very long. Bills are sometimes long. Examples : plover, snipe, sandpiper. 

 Order 6. Longepennes. Drivers and swimmers. Legs short, toes webbed. Examples: 



gull, duck. 

 Order 7. Colum'bae. Like Gallinae, but with weaker legs. Examples : dove, pigeon. 

 Order 8. Pici. Woodpeckers. Two toes point forward, two backward, and adaptation 



for climbing. Long, strong bill. 

 Order 9. Psittaci. Parrots. Hooked beak and fleshy tongue. 

 Order 10. Coccyges. Birds, with powerful beaks, using their feet as a means of progression. 



Examples : kingfisher, toucan, and cuckoo. 

 Order 11. Macrochires. Birds having long, pointed wings, without scales on metatarsus. 



Examples : swift, humming bird, and goatsucker. 



Self-Testing Exercise 



Birds are characterized by having an (1) covering of 



(2) ; (3) ; (4) modified for (5) in 



