Classification. BIRDS. Accipitkes. 235 
means of their bills ; and the chips produced during this 
would be but ill off when the severe weather of winter 
operation serve as a soft layer for the reception of the 
sets in. The winter visitors are principally granivorous 
eggs. Other birds which take up their abode in similar 
small birds, or aquatic species, whose nourishment 
situations, bring in soft materials to line the bottom of 
would be equally cut off by the intense frosts of the high 
tlreir wooden nest. But most of the true nest-building 
northern latitudes, where they have their abode in the 
birds bring together a quantity of materials of various 
summer. Thus we may easily understand the reasons 
kinds, sticks, twigs, straws, moss, wool, feathers, <S:c., 
for this great change of dwelling on the part of our 
which they either lay together in a mass amongst the 
feathered visitors ; but we must not the less wonder at 
branches of the trees, or on the surface of a rock, or 
the marvellous instincts which prompt whole species 
interweave in a most ingenious manner to form a more 
to undertake a long and arduous journey over sea and 
or less cup-shaped nest; the finer and warmer materials. 
land at certain definite periods of the year, prompting 
such as wool and feathers, being always employed in 
them even long before there is any apparent necessity 
lining the interior. A few species, such as the swallows. 
(to our observations) for their departure, to wing their 
compose the exterior of their nests of mud, and line 
way to distant climes. 
them with softer materials. The beauty and ingenuity 
It will be unnecessary to enter into any historical 
of construction of many of these little edifices, to which 
account of the difierent classifications of birds, such as 
we shall have to advert hereafter, are such as must 
we thought it desirable to give in connection with the 
excite the highest admiration in every intelligent ob- 
Mammalia. Naturalists are pretty generally agreed as 
server. In this respect, they 'resemble the wonderful 
to the limits of the orders composmg the present class ; 
architectural labours of many insects, and thus furnish 
and we shall therefore confine ourselves here to the 
an additional indication of the analogy already men- 
following tabular view of the classification that will be 
tioned between these two classes in their respective 
adopted in the present work. The sectional names — • 
sections of the animal kingdom. In both we find the 
Autophagie and Insessores — have been retained in this 
highest development of the instinctive faculties in their 
table, rather as indicating the general habits of the 
respective grades ; for it is to be observed that both 
species included in the orders placed under them, than 
the bird and the insect always build in one particular 
fashion ; every edifice produced by individuals of a 
as being strictly parts of the classification. 
given species, exactly resembling those formed by its 
Section I.— INSESSORES. 
brethren both in structure and materials, except where 
Order 1. Accipitkes. — B ill much hooked, with a cere at 
accidental circumstances, easily traced, may now and 
its base ; feet strong ; claws strong, and much hooked. 
then cause a slight deviation from the ordinary mode of 
“ 2. Passeres. — B ill variable in shape, without a cere ; 
toes three in front, one behind. 
proceeding. 
“ 3. Scansores. — B ill variable in shape ; toes two in 
The second phenomenon above alluded to is an 
front, two behind. 
illustration of instinct perhaps almost more puzzling 
“ 4. CoLUMB.®. — Bill slightly arched, with a soft tumid 
membrane at the base of the upper mandible, in which 
1 
than the nidification of birds ; it is their periodical 
migration from one country to another. Every one is 
the nostrils are pierced ; toes three before, one behind. 
aware that great numbers of our common birds only 
Section II.— AUTOPHAGAD. 
reside with us during a portion of each year : some 
Order 5. Gallinaj. — B ill arched above, with the edges of 
visit us in the autumn, and stay in Britain during the 
the upper mandible overlapping the lower ; toes three 
winter ; others arrive in the spring, and leave our 
before, one behind (or hind toe wanting) not united 
by a membrane ; legs feathered to the heel. 
shores in the autumn. The winter visitors come 
“ 6. CuRSORES. — "Wings rudimentary; legs strong; 
from more northern, and the summer ones from more 
hind toe wanting. 
southern regions. The latter are for the most part 
“ 7. Grallas. — W ings well developed; legs long; 
tibiae not feathered to the heel ; toes three in front. 
insectivorous birds ; and we can easily understand that. 
one behind (or hind toe wanting) not united by a 
although, during the summer, they may find an abun- 
dant nourishment about om- fields and woods, they 
membrane. 
“ 8. Natatores. — F eet webbed ; legs placed very far 
back. 
Order L— ACCIPITKES. 
The Accipitres or Rapacious Birds, the Eaptores of 
It is, as already stated, in the structure of the bill and 
Cuvier, have been placed bj^ almost all naturalists at 
feet, that we look for those characters which stand in 
the head of their class ; and in this we shall follow 
the most intimate relation to the mode of life of the 
preceding authors, although, in point of intelligence, as 
bird. The bill is short, strong, and hooked ; that is to 
also of analogy with the mammalia, the parrots ought 
say, the upper mandible is always much longer than 
perhaps to occupy this honourable position. This order 
the lower one, and either more or less curved through- 
includes those birds which are more especially adapted 
out its whole length, but more especially at the tip, or 
to a stiictl}' predaceous mode of life, and which display 
else nearly straight in its basal portion, and strongly 
their fierce and destructive nature in their tremendous 
bent down at the apex. The lateral margins of the 
muscular power, and the formidable weapons with which 
upper mandible are often armed with one or more 
they are furnished. 
teeth, not like those of the Mammalia, but simply acute 
