
INTRODUCTION. ‘a: 
Sometimes they have a calcareous covering or fhell ; 
-fometimes they are covered with fpines, and fome- 
times they have no covering. They have neither 
feet nor fins. They are called Vermes. 
‘The whole Clafs of Birds is divided into Six Orders. 
The firft Order is called Accipitres; their beaks are 
hooked, their legs ftrong, their claws bowed and 
fharp, their bodies mufcular; they live on prey, 
build on high, lay about four eggs; they pair; 
-and the female is the moft ftrong and beautiful. 
Second Order is called Pice; their beaks are com- 
_- prefled and convex on the back, their legs rather 
- ftrong, their food various; they pair, build moftly 
in trees, and the male bird feeds the female whilft 
fhe fits. 
Third Order is called Anferes; in many Genera the 
beak filters the water and retains the food; is 
wideft at the end and covered with a fkin; the 
feet are webbed for fwimming, their feathers are 
~ the moft ufeful of any kind, their nefts are gene- 
rally built on the ground, the mother feldom broods 
the young, and many of the génera do not pair. 
Fourth Order is called Grallz ; the beak in general 
is long, flender and cylindric’; the legs are formed 
for wading, with thighs half bare of feathers; 
_ the tail fhort, their flefh well tafted; they procure 
a | their 

