X 
PREFACE. 
Rapacious. 
Pies. 
Gallinaceous. 
Columbine. 
Passerine. 
Thofe of the tail of the Ostrich, and head of a lpecies of Cu- 
rasso, curled. Thofe of the Cassowary confift of two fliafts,. 
arifing from a common Item at the bottom. As do, at the ap- 
proach of winter (after moulting) thofe of the Ptarmigans of 
Arttic countries. The feathers of the Pinguins, particularly 
thofe of the wings, confiding chiefly of thin flat fliafts, and 
more refemble fcales than feathers ; thofe of the tail, like fplit 
whale- bone. 
FLIGHT. 
The flight of birds is various; for, had all the fame, none 
could elude that of rapacious birds. Thofe which are much on 
wing, or flit from place to place, often owe their prefervation 
to that caufe : Thofe in the water to diving. 
Kites, and many of the Falcon tribe, glide fmoothly through 
the air, with fcarce any apparent motion of the wings. 
Most of the order of Pies fly quick, with a frequent repeti- 
tion of the motion of the wings. The Paradise floats on the 
air. Woodpeckers fly aukwardly, and by jerks, and have a 
propenfity to fink in their progrels. 
The Gallinaceous tribe, in general, fly very Arong and 
fwiftly ; but their courfe is feldom long, by reafon of the weight 
of their bodies. 
The Columbine race is of Angular fwiftnefs ; witnefs the 
flight of the Mejfenger Pigeon. 
The Passerine fly with a quick repetition of ftrokes ; their 
flight, except in migration, is feldom diftant. 
Among 
