CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Introduction 1 
Chapter I. Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. — 
Tables of Classification. — Directions for their Appli- 
cation 5 
Chapter II. Structure of ffirds. — External Structure. — 
Skeleton. — Character of Beak. — Bones, their Lightness. 
— Solidity of Backbone. — Breastbone, Use of. — Wing- 
bones. — Legs, Peculiarities of. — When resting on one 
leg, why Birds do not fall 26 
Chapter III. Internal Structure. — Digestive Organs. — 
Gullet, Crop, Stomach — Adaptation of, to different habits 
of Birds. — Gastric Juice — Its use and properties. — 
Gizzard, its grinding powers. — Respiration of Birds . 42 
Chapter IV. Organs of Sound. — Ducks, Crane, Goat- 
Sucker, Bell-Bird, &c. — Distance at which Sounds may 
be heard. — Plumage. — Structure of Feathers. — Goose- 
Plucking. — Summer and Winter Plumage . . . . 56 
Chapter V. Flight. — -Muscular power of Wings. — Peculi- 
arity of, in different Birds. — Adapted to various habits. 
— Rapidity of motion, and rate of — How calculated. — 
Long continuance of Flight accounted for. — Migration, 
causes of. — Tendency of most Birds to wander at par- 
ticular times. — Why seldom seen in the act of Migrating 
— Instinctive power of finding their way 70 
