Fig. 5. A foot formed for perching, having three toes before and one behind.
Fig. 6. A walking foot, having a spur on the heel.
Fig. 7. A climbing foot, having two toes before and two behifid.
Fig. 8. A palmate or webbed foot. Fig. 9. A semi-palmate or half-webbed foot.
Fig. 10. A pinnate or finned foot.
Fig. 11. A lobate foot.
There are six orders of birds, each of which contains several genera, that will be noticed in their proper places. The orders are, 1. Accipitres or rapacious kind.
2. Picx or pye kind.
3. Anseres or duck kind.
4. Grallz or crane kind.
5. Gallinse or poultry kind.
6. Passeres or sparrow kind.
We may observe, with regard to this class of animals, the admirable contri vances, throughout the whole of their structure, for promoting their buoyancy in air, for enabling them to move with celerity, and for directing their course. Their covering is of the lightest kind ; yet the down with which they are sup plied under their feathers is the warmest that could be devised; for, in conse quence of the air entangled as it were hi its interstices, it is one of the slowest conductors of heat. The outer feathers, by their slanting disposition, and their natural oiliness, form a complete shelter to the body from wet ; and the hollow structure of the wing feathers, by increas ing their bulk without increasing their we,ght, renders them more buoyant in the air.
The whole form of the body is adapted to itsdying with ease and celerity ; the small head and sharp bill for diminishing the resistance of the air ; the greater muscular strength, as well as an expan sion of the wings, for impelling its body forward with celerity ; and the broad fea thers of the tail, moveable in almost every direction, for steering its course, like the rudder of a ship.
The disposition of the lungs along the back-bone, and their communications with the cells in the bones of the wings, thighs, and breast, by admitting air in al most every part of the body, increases the buoyancy of the whole, and enables the bird to exist longer without breath ing, which must be in a great measure impeded, if not suspended, during some of its rapid flights.
It has been observed, that the brilliancy of the plumage in the feathered tribe is only to be looked for in the warmer re gions of Asia, Africa, and America. This remark is, as a general one, perfectly cor rect; but whoever has seen the beautiful kingfisher dart along the shaded brook, cannot allow that our own country has nothing to boast in the brilliancy of its birds. The crimson crown of the wood. pecker, the beautiful bars of black, blue, and white, on the greater wing-coverts of the blue jay, and the elegant plumage of the pheasant, as well as the extreme beauty of the flicker, or gold winged wood.pecker, and the waxen ohatterer, or cedar-bird, the cerulian tints of the blue-bird, and splendours of the ruby throated humming-bird, prove that na tore has not confined her works of ele gance to regions within the tropics.
The whole class of birds differs essen tially from all other animals in internal structure, as well as in external form and appearance; and every point ofditference, when accurately examined, is evidently adapted to their peculiar habits. These will be noticed under the several orders and genera. To give but a single instance in this place : the accipitres have sight so piercing, that frequently, when so high as to be out of human ken, they can descry their prey upon the ground, and their flight is so rapid, that they can dart upon it with the celerity of a meteor. Their prey varies according to their strength and rapacity, from the lamb or kid, which the vulture bears away in his talons, to the smaller birds and mice, on which the hawk and owl tribes feast. To prevent the depredation that these would other wise commit, nature has ordained that this tribe of birds should be the least pro lific ; few of them lay more than two eggs.