i62 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



Shan looked puzzled. 



''Ducks don't, do they?" he asked. "They 

 can't, 'cause their feet are webbed. A Plover 

 can't perch 'cause he's got only three toes, all 

 sticking out in front. An Ostrich couldn't perch, 

 he 's only got two toes. The Whip-Poor-Will can 't 

 perch, his feet and legs are too weak." 



The pot-hunter looked at the boy meditatively. 



''There's somethin' in it," he said, "but Hawks 

 perch, an' yo' ain't goin' to tell me they're re- 

 lated to Wrens." 



"No," answered Shan, "it says here that Vul- 

 tures, Hawks and Owls belong to the same Order, 

 because they've all got curved claws like talons for 

 catching and tearing prey, and they've all got a 

 hooked bill." 



"So has a Parrot!" 



' ' N-no, ' ' said Shan, ' ' a Parrot has a notched bill, 

 with the lower part scoop-shaped, quite different. 

 He's in an Order of his own." 



"Well," said Bull, a little impatiently, "nigh 

 all the small birds perch, anyway." 



"About half of all known birds belong to the 

 Order of Passeres or Perchers," the lad agreed, 

 looking up from the book, "but the Humming- 

 birds are left out. ' ' 



