The New York herald., 1868-04-28
LECTURE ON NATURAL HISTORY.

Last evening Mr.. waterhouse Hawkn. delivered
the third OF the series Of his popular lectures in the
Cooper Institute, which was exceedingly well at
tended by an intelligent and appreclative audience,
who during the course OF the evening gave frequent
tokens of their appreciation Of the lecture. Mr. Haw
kins, on coming forward, observed that he had on
previous occasion indicated the design or plan in
the formation Of birds, and had also endea-
vored to specify the relationship in many
kindred points which existed between reptiles and
birds, for In some cases there was some diiicuty In
ascertaning which was the reptile proper and which
the bird proper. After few further preliminary re-
marks the lecturer proceeded to illustrate the subject
by very graphic delineatiOn the black board, OF
the birds their internal organization and anatomical
pecuar1ties, and showed how their frames were
penetrated through all their parts by air cells that
at considerable length on the variations In the
mechanism Of the different species OF BIRDS
powers Of night. Even the few exceptions had rSd e
mentary substitutes for wings that were never so
completely developed "a to become available. Adj
vertfng to the distinction between the birds which
hy and those which do not, he remarked that the
design or plan in the construction OF birds was only
so far modified n 1t had reference to the actual
OF the organs of Occmotion, and where the creature
not Intended to ny different arrangements were
made, according to their powers of progression.
With reference to the latter, he might observe
that they were formed Tor motion on the land
or in the water exclusively In oil these instances
the feathery COVERINGS were incompletely leyeuped
possessing proximate resemblance TO the hairy
covering Of certain land and water animals The
OF these forms OF exception both in regard to their
inability to raise themselves Into the air and their ex
Ceptiona hair-like plumage. There was q consider
abe difference between the American and the Afrt-
can ostrich, the former having three toes and the lat
ter hut two. Moreover, the American ostrich, uu-
like the other took the greatest possible Of It's
o1sprng but 1t was The father OF the family that did
all the duty. .augher lie then advcrted TO the re-
lations and correlatves Of birds to reptiles which he
demonstrated by diagrams, showing In some
Instances the sameness Of structure and the same-
nees OF design Of many birds TO the mammalian
group. II was interesting and curious In their va
riety and their peculiar adaptation 10 their several
purposes TO regard the muscular and other integu-
ments which covered the bony frame work OF all the
frame work OF the entire class. The pectoral muscles
In birds OF vigorous flight presented the greatest
developments. There was double circulation OF
air in their nigft; while In swimming birds there
was but comparatively scanty medium OF cir.
culation. The lecturer gave minnie detail or
the wonderful mechanism Of birds generally which
he delineated with the greatest ease, accuracy and
rapidly the board and In which he was repeatedly
applauded He compared the ancient with the living
forms OF birds and described at length their system
and adaptbility in flying. walking aud swimming.
Finally he pointed out the relation however distant
that existed between reptiles and birds and iny ex.
empfed the glorious adaptation charncteri.tcs and
pecuiarites OF the several species OF the earth and
water. Mr.. Hawkins concluded his lecture amid
leud applause