xii 
INTRODUCTION. 
birds and carnivorous quadrupeds is obvious ; both of them 
are provided with weapons which indicate deftru&ion and ra- 
pine, their manners are fierce and unfocial, and they feldom 
herd together in flocks like the inoffenfive granivorous tribes. 
When not on the wing, rapacious birds retire to the tops of fe- 
queftered rocks, or the depths of extend ve fore (Is, where they 
conceal themfelves in fullen and gloomy folitude. Thofe which 
feed on carrion are endowed with a fenfe of fmelling fo exquifite, 
as to enable them to fcent dead and putrid carcafes at aftonifh- 
ing diftances. 
Befide thefe great divifions of birds into granivorous and ra- 
pacious kinds, there are numerous other tribes, to whom Nature 
has given fuitable organs, adapted to their peculiar habits and 
modes of living. Like amphibious animals, a great variety of 
birds live chiefly in the water, and feed on fifties, infe&s, and 
other aquatic productions : To enable them to fwim and dive 
in quefl: of food, their toes are connected by broad membranes 
or webs, with which they ftrike the water, and are driven for- 
ward with great force. The feas, the lakes, and rivers abound 
with innumerable fwarms of birds of various kinds, all which 
find an abundant fupply in the immeafurable (lores with which 
the watery world is every where flocked. There are other 
tribes of aquatic birds, frequenting marfhy places and the mar- 
gins of lakes and rivers, which feem to partake of a middle na- 
ture between thofe which live wholly on land, and thofe which 
are entirely occupied in waters : Some of thefe feed on fifties 
and reptiles ; others derive nouriftiment by thrufling their long 
bills into foft and muddy fubftances, where they find worms, 
the eggs of infers, and other nutritious matter ; they do not 
fwim, but wade in quefl: of food, for which purpofe Nature has 
provided them with long legs, bare of feathers even above the 
knees ; their toes are not connected by webs, like thofe of the 
fwimmers, but are only partially furnifhed with membranaceous 
appendages, which are juft fufficient to fupport them on the foft 
and doubtful ground which they are accuftomed to frequent : — 
Moft of thefe kinds have very long necks and bills, to enable 
