NATURAL HISTORY. 
97 
long journies, fo as to be enabled to reach 
their deftined fojournment i* As thele quef- 
tions can only be referred to the wilclom of 
the great Creator of the univerfe, we cannot 
avoid learning from them this lelTon of humi- 
lity at leafl; ; that, whatever may be the 
boafl of human reafon, it vaniflies, when com- 
pared with this wonderful inftina of the cmi- 
grative power in birds. 
Clo.Jfes . — According to Linn^us, birds are 
divided into fix clalTes, in the following or- 
der : 
I. The Rapacious Kind . — Which are car- 
nivorous, and live by preying on others, or 
eating the flelh of dead animals. They are 
diftiiiguifiied by the beak, which is ftrong, 
hooked and notched at the point ; by their 
I fliort mufcular legs, ftrong toes, and crook- 
ed talons ; by their ftrength of body, impu- 
rity of flelh, nature of food, and ferocious 
cruelty. 
Ib TheP/V Kind . — Which are diftinguifli- 
ed by their mifccllaneous food, and their fe- 
males being fed by the males in breeding 
time. 
_ HI. The Poultry Kind.—'SM\\xc\\ are dif- 
hnguiflied by tlieir fat mufcular bodies, and 
pure white flefli. Strangers to any attach- 
ment, unlike other birds, they are promifeu- 
oMs in the choice of their mates. 
^V.. The Sparrow Kind . — Which moftly 
conipofe the vocal and beautiful. Some live 
I 
on 
