Fig. i88. Specialization in the legs of birds 



Although the legs of all birds are constructed on the same general plan, there are 

 many distinctive features that correspond to the different habits of life. There are the 

 webbed toes of water birds — gull, loon, albatross, pelican; the long legs of wading 

 birds — heron; the sharp claws of birds of the predatory habit — hawk. Contrast 

 the climbing foot of the woodpecker with the perching foot of the parrot and the 



ground foot of the sparrow or partridge 



