I
stus" z Classifying
i
Read the following careíu||y.
Tire C|assificaÍion of Birds
Birds are instantly recognisable creatures. Perhaps it is their
abí|ity to f|y that Causes this. Some peopIe might consider that
their shape was the most distinguishing feature. Everyone,
however, agrees upon the characteristics that a bird
'í posSesses: two wings, feathers, two Iegs, a 1oothless bi|| or
beak, warm blood, and it lays eggs.
The modern system oí c|assifying birds is like a pyramid,
with the base formed by B51a dífÍerenlspecies. A convenient
deíinition of species is: an interbreeding group oÍ birds which
ro do not normally mate with other such groups.
The next division above the species is the genus, a group oÍ
species showing Stron8 simiIaritíes. The scientific name oí a
bird gives the genus first, then the species. Thus, the
scientiíic (Latin) name of the goIden eagIe is ,Aquila
ti chrysaětos, (ea8|e, go|den). When there are stronS points of
similarity between one genus and another, these related
genera are grouped together and are said to belong to the
same family. The names of the 215 fanrilies oí birds a|ways
end in,idae.. The go|den eag|e, for instance, is one oÍ the
](),Falconidae, (fa|csn íami|y).
Families with broadly similar characteristics are grouped
together into27 orders, whose names end in,iíormes'. The
goIden eagle faIls into the order of ,FaIconiformes, (íalcon-|ikc
birds). The Iargest order is ,PasseriÍormeS, or perching birds.
-ts This contains 63 families, and more species than all the rest
put together. The íeet are designed so that they can grip a
perch, with three toes in front and one behind. ln addition,
all are known as song-birds. Two large families within this
order are sparrows, with 155 species, and crows, with 100
t{r species.
FinaIly, a|| oí the orders make up the c/ass,Aves'(birds).
This system oí classif'ication has enabled scientists to
differentiate 8514 species oÍ birds. P|acing a bird in the right
family depends upon a number of features. Among them are
.}5 externaI characteristics, such as the shape oÍ the beak and
feet, and the coIour pattern of the Íeathers. However. at the
fevel of order, the next higher category, distinctions are based
on such features as the structure of the skull, the
arrangement of the musc|es in the |egs, and the condition oÍ
40 the young at the time of hatching.
+1
a
Ltnrt
2
Look at Diagram 2 (The Classification of Birds). lf necessary, read the
text again and then complete the table. Parts of it have been filled
in already to help you. Note that the centre column should contarn
i.rxamples relating to the bird 'golden eagle' (in Errglish).
Diagrarn 2: Tbe Classifcation of Birds
ClassiÍicatiorr
divisions or
ca
te
gories
Example of
Nurnlrcr of
class ifica tion
rhe dir,rsions
oÍ colden Eagle
for each
division
ORDER
FALCON-LIKE
GOLDEN
3
a
b
c
d
e
4a
b
I.-ACI-E
ri_j I 4
From the inÍormation in the text:
give a definition of a bird.
gíve a definition of a species.
aive two criteria that are used in assignin9 birds to the order
Passerif ormes.
oí
give two examples of families of birds from the order of
Passeriformes.
Iist some of the generaI characteristics ot famiIies of birds, and
orders of bírds.
then oÍ
Write a brief general description of the classification of birds: base
your description upon the inÍormation containedin Diagram 2.
Write in a simi|ar way to the fo||owing classiíication oí vegetables'
There are siX main groups of Vegetab|es, Íor examp|e,
legumes. Each group may be divided into members, such as
beans, and each member may be sub-divided into types:
Scarlet Runners are an example. i'inally, each type may be
further subdivided ínto a number of varieties, e.g.
Prizewinner.
fage3 DiagramS
1
a
b
LookcarefullyatDiagram3onpage46.ltisatreediagram
classif ication of drinks.
What are the three criteria that are used in the c|assiíication?
Write a description of the c|assiÍication of drinks based upon the
information in Diagram 3. Begin your description:
Drinks may be classi6ed into two main gror.rps: . .
.
45
7
Unit
consisrs of
wbetber or not .. . rhe re is X
rultclber tlrcrc is X or not . .
according ro
conrl>rrscs.
.
accc..dingto...
X may be classi6ed
on the basis
oí. .
.
depending(up)on...
The classi6carion is based (up)on .
.
Note tbe possible sequence:
...maybedivided...
.. . may
.. . may
B
k
nu
i
be sub-divided - . .
be íurther sub.divided .
.'
I
Vocabulary:
Schools in England and
Wales
sccondary modcrrr
pupils: rges 4/5-
ndcrga rten/
State:non-fee-paying
|
I
rsery school
or clrss
"i.l.;"i
puprls: agcs
/
ll-i6or lll
co-etlucatiorrel
(utrrctl)
examlnatt()n
PRIMARY
Prc-pnmary
iníant
plavgroup
(4/ 5-7
nror
Ir.r
)
\,/
(7*t t)
co-cduc:r t irlnl
no
se
middlc school
8-9 to | 2-
(ages
l
single scr
lectron
-
(plus 6th forrn)
| .1)
(iÍ ntl 6r|r i<lrIrri {
6th Forrrr Collcge/Tcrri.rrv (.ollruc
MANACEMENT
ma
hematrcs
f
(nraintained by local educariorr rrrrhoritics)
religious
education
Yoluntary schools
gcography
NATIONAL
CURRICULUM
strea-nl
I
ne
SOUerntrlg
bodies
religiou s
denominati<lns
80v .í"".\
LL,A appoinr mentS
l\
Parents
tcaching
csrablished by
I
co-optcd mernbcrs
I
teacheÍs ,
represcnrativcs
re
h
istory
ch
n<l
logr
art
rnusic
physi ca
I
cducation
rn ix
cd
abilirv
nt<ldern ítlrcig,n
language
4l
7