DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF ANIMALS. 



201 



ibr swimming : the tongue is uniformly fleshy, and the bill, in many in= 

 stances, denticulate or toothed. It includes only thirteen kinds, of which I 

 may take as examples, the anas, comprehending the very numerous families 

 of duck, goose, swan, wild duck, teal, and shoveller ; the mergus or mer- 

 ganser ; alca or hawk ; aptenodytes or penguin ; pelecanus or pelecan ; 

 colymbus, comprising the grebes, guillemots and divers, and procellaria or 

 petrel. The petrels have an extraordinary habit of spouting from their bills 

 a considerable quantity of oil upon any object that offends them. The 

 procellaria pelegica^ or stormy petrel, is the most daring of all birds during 

 a tempest, though not more than six inches long. The moment he be- 

 holds the black clouds collecting, he quits his rocky retreat and enjoys the 

 magnificent and growing spectacle; he darts exultingly athwart the con- 

 cave, and skims with triumphant temerity the loftiest peaks and deepest 

 valleys of the most tremendous waves. The appearance of this bird is, to 

 the sailor, a sure presage of an approaching storm. 



The GralLuE or waders, form the FotJRTH order of birds, in the Lin- 

 nean system. They are characterized by possessing a roundish or sub- 

 cylindric bill, a fleshy tongue, and legs naked above the knees. The ardea, 

 or genus that includes the herons, cranes, and bitterns, is the most nume- 

 rous. The scolopax, which includes the curlew, snipe, and woodcock ; 

 the tringa, which includes the sandpiper, the rufl" and reeve, and the lap- 

 wing or pewit ; the fulica, which includes the gallinule, coot, and moor- 

 hen ; and the charadius or plover are among those that are most familiar 

 to us. To this order also belongs the tantalus or ibis, so celebrated for the 

 divine honours paid to it for many ages throughout Egypt ; and, at least, 

 a most valuable bird from its clearing the land of those numerous reptiles 

 and insects, which are left upon its surface after the exundations of the 

 Nile. It is the abu-hannes of Bruce, which, however, M. Cuvier regards 

 as not properly a tantalus ; and has, consequently, made a distinct genus 

 for receiving it, to which he has given the name of neumenius ; and hence, 

 under this classification, it is a Neumenius Ibis^ instead of a Tantalus Ibis. 



The FIFTH ORDER embraces the gallin^e or GALLtNACEors birds ; those 

 which strictly come under the denomination of poultry. They are chiefly 

 characterized by having a convex bill, with the upper mandible arched. 

 They are the least numerous of all the orders next the accipitres, and» 

 extend to not more than ten kinds or genera ; many of which, however, 

 are very extensive in their species. The kinds most familiar to us are the 

 phasianus or pheasant, including all the families, and their liumerous varie- 

 ties of common cock and hen ; the tetrao or partridge, including all the 

 families and their numerous varieties of grouse, red-game, black-game, 

 ptarmigan, and quail ; the pavo or peacock ; and meleagris or turkey. To 

 this order also belong the numidia, pintado or guinea-hen, the otis or bus- 

 tard, the didus or dodo, and the struthio, including those large and stately 

 birds, the emeu, cassowary, and ostrich : the last of which, though inca- 

 pable of flying, derives from its wings a fleetness of running, that is un- 

 rivalled by any animal whatever. This bird is capable of being tamed, 

 and may be conveniently rode ; and Adanson asserts, that, when mounted, 

 it will surpass the speed of the most rapid courser. He tells us, that while 

 he was at the factory at Podore, he was in possession of two tame ostriches, 

 the oldest of which, though young, would carry two negroes upon its back, 

 with a rapidity superior to what has ever been exhibited by the fleetest 

 racer upon the Newmarket turf. 



The iAST ORDER of the bird class is entitled passareS, fot which- iff 



9S- 



