308 HOMING WITH THE BIRDS 



between the toes, remarkably long pointed beaks, 

 designed for probing for food among the stalks of 

 growing rushes and watery vegetation — such birds 

 as storks, cranes, and herons. 



Birds thai sought the mountains and remote 

 places grew wide tireless wings, eyes of magic from 

 constantly sighting food at long distances, and 

 stout, sharply hooked beaks for tearing it up. 

 Those that homed in caves and hollow trees in 

 their dark confinement developed enormous eyes, 

 surrounded by feather reflectors, softly feathered 

 short wings, stout feet for seizing prey, and thick 

 necks with wide gullets for swallowing what they 

 captured whole. 



Then a large body of small birds that took to 

 the open country evolved, some the long sharp 

 beaks of fruit-eaters; some the hard short beaks of 

 seed-eaters; all bright eyes, great agility on wing; 

 in most families, exquisite song. 



As our planet shook itself together, settled, and 

 took up the business of following an orbit, it began 

 mowing fruit and vegetables, which developed 

 seed, while revolution and rotation resulted in 

 changing climatic conditions until the birds ac- 

 quired the habit of following the seasons from 

 north to south in search of the food suitable to 

 each species. 



It would be foolish to claim that our birds of 

 to-day have learned nothing during all these ages 

 of constanl change. Man has evolved from his 



