reach fourteen or fifteeen. How birds, whose age of perfection is much more early than that of quadrupeds, should yet live comparatively so much longer, is not easily to be accounted for; perhaps, as their bones are lighter, and more porous than those of quadrupeds, there are fewer obstructions in the animal machine; and Nature, thus finding more room for the operations of life, it is carried on to a greater extent.

All birds in general are less than quadrupeds; that is, the greatest of one class far surpass the greatest of the other in magnitude. The ostrich, which is the greatest of birds, bears no proportion to the elephant; and the smallest humming-bird, which is the least of the class, is still far more minute than the mouse. In these the extremities of Nature are plainly discernible; and in forming them she appears to have been doubtful in her opera tions; the ostrich, seemingly covered with hair, and incapable of flight, making near approaches to the quadruped class; while the humming-bird, of the size of an humble bee, and with a fluttering motion, seems nearly allied to the insect.

These extremities of this class are rather objects of human curiosity than utility: it is the middle order of birds which man has taken care to propagate and maintain. Of those which he has taken under his protection, and which administer to his pleasures or necessities, the greatest number seem creatures of his formation. The variety of climate to which he consigns them, the food with which he supplies them, and the purposes for which he employs them, produce amazing varieties, both in their colours, shape, magnitude, and the taste of their

flesh. Wild birds are, for the most part, of the same magnitude and shape; they still keep the prints of primeval nature strong upon them; ex, cept in a few they generally maintain their very colour: but it is otherwise with domestic animals; they change at the will of man-of the tame pigeon, for instance, it is said that they can be bred to a feather.

As we are thus capable of influencing their form and colour, so also it is frequent to see equal instances of our influencing their habitudes, appetites, and passions. The cock, for instance, is artificially formed into that courage and activity which he is seen to possess; and many birds testify a strong at ́tachment to the hand that feeds them; how far they are capable of instruction, is manifest to those who have the care of hawks. But a still more surprising instance of this, was seen some time ago in London: a canary bird was taught to pick up the letters of the alphabet, at the word of command, so as to spell any person's name in company; and this the little animal did by motions from its master, which were imperceptible to every other spectator. Upon the whole, however, they are inferior to quadrupeds in docility; and seem more mechanically impelled by all the power of instinct.

CHAP. III.

Of the Division of Birds.

THOUGH birds are fitted for sporting in air, yet as they find their food upon the surface of the earth,

4

there seems a variety equal to the different aliments with which it tends to supply them. The flat and burning desert, the rocky cliff, the extensive fen, the stormy ocean, as well as the pleasing landscape, have all their peculiar inhabitants. The most obvious distinction therefore of birds, is into those that live by land, and those that live by water; or, in other words, into land birds, and water fowl.

It is no difficult matter to distinguish land from water fowl, by the legs and toes. All land birds have their toes divided, without any membrane or web between them; and their legs and feet serve them for the purposes of running, grasping, or climbing. On the other hand, water fowl have their legs and feet formed for the purposes of wading in water, or swimming on its surface. In those that wade, the legs are usually long and naked; in those that swim, the toes are webbed together, as we see in the feet of a goose, which serve, like oars, to drive them forward with greater velocity. The formation, therefore, of land and water fowl, is as distinct as their habits; and Nature herself seems to offer us this obvious distribution, in methodizing animals of the feathered

creation.

However, a distinction so comprehensive goes but a short way in illustrating the different tribes of so numerous a class. The number of birds already known, amounts to nearly three thousand; and every person who turns his mind to these kinds of pursuits, is every day adding to the catalogue. It is not enough, therefore, to be able to distinguish a land from a water fowl; much more is still required: to be able to distinguish the different kinds of birds

from each other; and even the varieties in the same kind, when they happen to offer. This certainly is a work of great difficulty; and perhaps the attainment will not repay the labour. The sensible part of mankind will not withdraw all their attention from more important pursuits, to give it entirely up to what promises to repay them only with a very confined species of amusement. In my distribution of birds, therefore, I will follow Linnæus in the first sketch of his system; and then leave him, to follow the most natural distinctions, in enumerating the different kinds that admit of a history, or require a description.

Linnæus divides all birds into six classes: namely, into birds of the rapacious kind, birds of the pie kind, birds of the poultry kind, birds of the sparrow kind, birds of the duck kind, and birds of the crane kind. The four first comprehend the various kinds of land birds; the two last, those that belong to the water.

Birds of the rapacious kind constitute that class of carnivorous fowl that live by rapine. He distinguishes them by their beak, which is hooked, strong, and notched at the point; by their legs, which are short and muscular, and made for the purposes of tearing; by their toes, which are strong and knobbed; and their talons, which are sharp and crooked; by the make of their body, which is muscular; and their flesh, which is impure: nor are they less known by their food, which consists entirely of flesh; their stomach, which is membraneous; and their manners, which are fierce and cruel.

Birds of the pie kind have the bill differing from

the former: as in those it resembled a hook, destined for tearing to pieces; in these it resembles a wedge, fitted for the purpose of cleaving. Their legs are formed short and strong for walking; their body is slender and impure, and their food miscellaneous. They nestle in trees, and the male feeds the female during the time of incubation.

Birds of the poultry kind have the bill a little convex, for the purposes of gathering their food. The upper chap hangs over the lower; their bodies are fat and muscular, and their flesh white and pure. They live upon grain, which is moistened in the crop. They make their nest on the ground, without art; they lay many eggs, and use promiscuous venery.

Birds of the sparrow kind comprehend all that beautiful and vocal class that adorn our fields and groves, and gratify every sense in its turn. Their bills may be compared to a forceps that catches hold their legs are formed for hopping along; their bodies are tender; pure in such as feed upon grain, impure in such as live upon insects. They live chiefly in trees; their nests are artificially made, and their amours are observed with connubial fidelity.

Birds of the duck kind use their bill as a kind of strainer to their food; it is smooth, covered with a skin, and nervous at the point. Their legs are short, and their feet formed for swimming, the toes being webbed together. Their body is fat, inclining to rancidity. They live in waters, and chiefly build their nests upon land.

With respect to the order of birds that belong to the waters, those of the crane kind have the bill