INTRODUCTION. 
xi 
pbferve dill farther, that the hones thus taken into the flomachs 
of birds are feldom known to pafs with the faeces, but being 
ground down and feparated by the powerful adlion of the giz- 
zard, are mixed with the food, and, no doubt, contribute very- 
much to the health as well as nutriment of the animal. 
Granivorous birds partake much of the nature and difpofition 
of herbivorous quadrupeds. In both, the number of their Ito- 
machs, the length and capacity of their inteflines, and the qua- 
lity of their food, are very fimilar ; they are likewife both dif- 
tinguifhed by the gentlenefs, of their tempers and manners ; 
Contented with the feeds of plants, with fruits, infers, and 
worms, their chief attention is directed to procuring food, hatch- 
ing and rearing their offspring, and avoiding the fnares of men, 
and the attacks of birds of prey and other rapacious animals. 
They are a mild and gentle race, and are in general fo tra&able 
as eafily to be domefticated. Man, ever attentive and watchful 
to every thing conducive to his interefl, has not failed to avail 
himfelf of thefe difpofitions, and has judicioufly fele£led, from 
the numbers which every way furround him, thofe which are 
molt prolific, and confequently the moil profitable : Of thefe 
the Hen, the Goofe, the Turkey, and the Duck are the moft 
confiderable, and form an inexhauflible flore of rich, whole- 
fome, and nutritious food. 
Carnivorous birds are diflinguifhed by thofe endowments and 
powers with which they are furnifhed by Nature for the purpofe 
of procuring their food : They are provided with wings of great 
length, the mufcles which move them being proportionally large 
and flrong, whereby they are enabled to keep long upon the 
wing in fearch of their prey ; they are armed with flrong hook- 
ed bills, fliarp and formidable claws ; they have alfo large heads, 
fhort necks, flrong and brawny thighs, and a fight fo acute and 
piercing, as to enable them to view their prey from immeafure- 
able heights in the air, upon which they dart with inconceive- 
able fwiftnefs and undeviating aim ; their flomachs are fmaller 
than thofe of the granivorous kinds, and their inteflines are 
much fhorter. The analogy between the flrudure of rapacious 
