60 



ZOOLOGY. 



Such as devour iisli ; Insectivorous, those that prey on 

 insects; Frugivorous, such as consume fruit; Gramini- 

 vorous which feed on grass or herbage ; and GranivorouSj 

 which feed on grain and seeds. 



The individuals coirsposiDg the Cariiivorous Orderj are, ail 

 of a strong robust form, and are capable of enduring hunger 

 for a great length of time, but cruel and voracious ; they are 

 mostly furnished with long wings, and muscles of prodigious 

 strengdij by uliich they are enabled to keep on wing for 

 many hours together : a peculiarity of structure evidently 

 necessary, as their food, consisting for the most part of other 

 Animals, vvlio are v\lth themselves equally alive to dangerj 

 their ap];)etite3 are only allayed by taking their prey by 

 surprise : or where any of this order act as the Scavengers 

 of the Earth," their sense of smelling is necessarily exqui- 

 sitely accute, to enable them to scent putrid carcasses at 

 great distances. Were it not for the great power of wing 

 dispensed to this tribe, they would be totally unable to 

 subsist ; as the food the bountiful hand of nature has provi- 

 ded for their consumption, is so widely distributed, that 

 without being gifted with superior power of exertion to 

 carry them through the entensive journles they are neces- 

 sarily obliged to perform, they would soon cease to exist ; 

 but to counterbalance this fatigue, their food is frequently 

 given with such a liberal hand, that when once satiated, they 

 do not require a fresh supply ior several days. It is to this 

 unequal distribution of food, that the periodical migration 

 of Birds must be placed. 



The anatomy of Carnivorous Birds nearly resembles that 



