Birds.
STONE EAGLE GUARDING HIS BOOTY.
STONE EAGLE GUARDING HIS BOOTY.
STONE EAGLE GUARDING HIS BOOTY.
IN the study of our beautiful and interesting friends, the Birds, it is useless to enter into any prolonged discussion concerning their structure and their habits in this limited space; we are too eager to arrange them in their proper families, and learn of the interesting traits of individuals.
TAILOR BIRD.
TAILOR BIRD.
TAILOR BIRD.
There is one thing worthy of consideration, however, in studying the Birds as a whole, before taking up individuals; and that is their wonderful intelligencein the building of their nests and the care of their young. It is difficult to understand this intelligence as exhibited in Birds. In the Mammals, whose organization approaches nearer to our own, we are enabled partly to comprehend their joys and griefs, but in the case of Birds it is difficult to understand their sensations.
To explain this mystery a word has been invented which proves generally satisfactory. Thus we call the sentiment which leads the Birds to perform so many admirable actions, instinct. The tenderness of the mother for her young for instance—a tenderness so full of delicacy and foresight, is, we say, only the result of instinct. It is agreed, however, that this instinct singularly resembles the intelligence called reason.
Take the intelligence that is shown in the majority of Birds in the nest building. The Tailor bird—an East Indian Bird related to the Warblers—shows rare intelligence in constructing its nest by stitching together the leaves of plants; and as we study the individuals of the different families of Birds we will find numerous instances of this marvellous quality commonly known as instinct.
Birds have been arranged in groups and families in various ways by different Naturalists, but the most satisfactory classification is the division into six great families. First, the Raptores, or Birds of Prey; second, the Natatores, or Swimming Birds; third, the Grallatores, or Wading Birds; fourth, the Scransores, or Climbing Birds; fifth, the Gallinaceae, or Domestic Birds; sixth, the Passerines, or the Sparrow Family.