174 THE GAIT OF BIRDS. 



tbose which frequent both land and water. Thus the Phalarope has a 

 foot very much resembling that of the Coot, though on a smaller scale. 

 Then the Heron, that mighty fresh-water fisherman, is' said to have a 

 peculiar character of leg, the scales being supplied with a singular attrac- 

 tiveness, causing fish, within a considerable distance, immediately to resort 

 to the place where he stands, so that, with his keen eye, he darts upon 

 them and feasts at his leisure. It is likely to suppose that it is an olea- 

 ginous juice residing in the rete mucosum, or under skin of the leg, which 

 is this attraction; for the skin and marrow are dried, and used as a ground 

 bait, and is said to be very effective. I merely refer to this a received 

 opinion, but do not vouch for its accuracy. The middle claw of each 

 foot is also furnished with a sort of comb, or is pectinated; this is 

 probably used by the bird as a comb, for his feathers are both long and 

 coarse; it is, however, a curious fact that this bird and the Nightjar or 

 Fern-Owl, are the only two which possess this peculiar formation, and no 

 two birds, I suppose, can be more dissimilar in their habits and appearance. 

 The Heron also I may mention in this place, is a percher, and builds in 

 trees in companies. 



I have spoken of birds which have no hind toes; this is the case with 

 nearly all the Plover tribe and the Curlews, but the Woodpeckers have a 

 curious formation by which they are enabled to move the outside toe on 

 either foot either forward or backward, as inclination or occasion may re- 

 quire; this, it is obvious, is a very useful provision on such very rugged 

 and unyieldly surfaces as they must constantly meet with. Curiously enough, 

 the Cuckoo, which is a pure percher, has the same form of foot, but this 

 is probably for the purpose of supporting him in a better balance than his 

 short leg would otherwise accomplish. The Parrot and Crossbill tribe have 

 the same power, but the Swift or Black Swallow has the most curious 

 foot of any known bird; his legs are very short, and he has four toes of 

 equal length on each foot, which all move independently of each other, 

 and are formed for clasping, so that he can climb with great facility, which 

 is very useful in ascending under the narrow eaves of houses, where they 

 have nests, and which by their position they could not otherwise so con- 

 veniently enter. 



All the perching birds are endowed with strong claws more or less, and 

 these are not only useful in their every-day life on trees, but chiefly during 

 the night-time, when at roost, to preserve them from falling, to which the 

 position of their bodies also contributes. Thus Cormorants, Gannets, and 

 birds which must brave the tempest on the bleak pinnacles of the sea-girt 

 rocks, have sharp claws at the extremities of their large webbed feet, and 

 thus they obtain a firm hold or footing in those difficult situations, besides 

 being of advantage in securing their slippery prey. 



