382 



The Bird 



If we watch a duck as it settles itself for the night 

 upon the snow, we wdll see it squat down, snuggle its 

 beak deep among the feathers of the back, and finally 

 draw up each foot from the frozen surface and tuck them 

 up out of sight. Thus they are protected from freezing 

 during the long, cold night. 



The pugnacity of the males of the Order of game- 

 birds has become proverbial; almost all are "fighting 

 cocks" and yet their beaks are not fitted for defence or 



Fig. 299.— Mallard asleep on the snow, with its feet drawn up to avoid freezing. 



offence, nor can they clutch and tear with their claws. 

 But we find spurs developed on the tarsus, or upper 

 foot, in fowds, turkeys, pheasants, and peacocks, which 

 are used with remarkable skill in their battles. In 

 structure these outgrowths are identical with the horns 

 of antelopes and cows, consisting of a bony projection 

 over which grows a sheath of horn. The spurs of the 

 peacock are long and sharp and are occasionally used 

 with such effect that the results are fatal to each of the 

 contestants. A diminutive relative of Pavo, the Pea- 



