6 
INTRODUCTION. 
are some quadrupeds which are not included in the kinds 
named, and which seem to stand by themselves. The 
principal are the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, ca- 
melopard, camel, bear, &c. 
2. BIRDS, of all the classes of animated creation, are 
peculiarly fitted to excite our astonishment and admira- 
tion. That an animal of great weight should be able to 
suspend itself, and to move with unparalleled rapidity in 
so thin a medium as the air, is truly wonderful ; and not 
less so the admirable adaptation of each part to its in- 
tended purpose. 
The feathers are furnished with an oily matter, that 
they may not absorb wet ; the bones are very light, yet 
strong ; the sight is piercing, and the shape of the bird 
the most proper for moving rapidly through the regions 
of the air. The muscles of the wings are of such magni- 
tude that they constitute not less that one sixth of the 
whole body, and their strength is almost incredible. The 
flap of a swan’s wing would break a man’s leg. 
They are divided into land birds and water birds. 
The land birds consist of the rapacious kind, the pie kind, 
the poultry kind, and the sparrow kind ; the water birds 
of the crane kind and the duck kind, called waders and 
swimmers. 
The rapacious birds bear a strong analogy to the car- 
nivorous quadrupeds. They are, like them, armed with 
powerful weapons of destruction, and destroy and feed 
upon every thing weaker than themselves. They are 
also solitary and unsocial in their habits. The principal 
are the eagle, condor, vulture, &c. 
