BOOK VII.
A Survey of Birds.
Having briefly, as well as I could, dispatch’d the Tribe of Quadrupeds, I shall next take as brief and transient a View of the feather’d Tribe.
And here we have another large Province to expatiate in, if we should descend to every Thing wherein the Workmanship of the Almighty appears. But I must contract my Survey as much as may be; and shall therefore give only such Hints and Touches upon this curious Family of Animals, as may serve for Samples of the rest of what might be observ’d.
CHAP. I.
Of the Motion of Birds, and the Parts ministring thereto.
As this Tribe hath a different Motion from that of other Animals, and an amphibious Way of Life; partly in the Air, and partly on the Land and Waters; so is their Body accordingly shap’d, and all their Parts incomparably fitted for that Way of Life and Motion; as will be found by a cursory View of some of the Particulars. And the