25. One of the children immediately arose and said, that a bird has no
lips, but he has a bill; and that bill opens as the lips of a man do,
and forms the mouth of the bird.
26. Yes, said the teacher; and now listen to me while I tell you the
things you should always mention, when you are asked what a bird is,--
First, A bird is an animal.
Secondly, It has two legs.
Thirdly, It has two wings.
Fourthly, It has feathers.
Fifthly, It has a hard, glossy bill.
27. And now, said the teacher, you see that I was right when I told you
that I had a hard question to ask you, when I asked What is a bird?
28. Now, if you will join all of these things which belong to a bird in
the description which you give in answer to my question, What is a bird,
you will then give a correct definition of a bird,--that is, you will
tell exactly what a bird is, and no more, and no less.
29. A bird is an animal covered with feathers, having two legs, two
wings, and a hard, glossy bill.
30. When you are asked what anything is, recollect what I have told you
about a bird, and try to recall everything that you ever knew about the
thing, and in this way you will be able to give a satisfactory answer.
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