28 
INTRODUCTION. 
six great orders of birds have been divided by natu- 
ralists into groups or families called genera , to eacb 
of which a name has been applied often indicative 
of some peculiarity in the appearance or habits of 
the bird, and mostly expressed in Latin. Thus, to 
the Sparrow family has been applied the generic term 
of Fringillidse , and to the Humming Birds that of 
Trodiilidse. These families are again separated into 
sub-genera , according to certain differences in the for- 
mation of the bill, feet, wings, etc. To each of these 
divisions a name is given depending much upon the 
fancy of the naturalist, and is frequently bestowed 
in honor of some great patron of science. The sub- 
genera often consist of many species , and an appro- 
priate Latin specific name is added to each, by which 
it may be distinguished from all others. Thus, the 
common House Wren of Europe is called Troglodytes 
Domestica — the former being its family or generic, 
and the latter its individual or specific title. Thus 
to every little warbler that sings its matin song be- 
neath our windows, science has given a name as sig- 
nificant as John Smith or John Jones, the only differ- 
ence being that the part of it which designates his 
family is mentioned first. 
By a careful attention to the foregoing remarks, 
and by frequent observation of the habits of birds in 
their accustomed haunts, the young student may soon 
become acquainted with the appearance and manners 
of most of our native species, and with the aid of a 
little study will be able to recognize in each a fami- 
