XXI 
HIS BODY 
Dip you ever think how well the bird is made 
to suit his life? Look at him. 
To fit him to move through the air in flying, 
his shape is the same that men make their boats 
to move through water. It is sharp in front to 
cut his way as he goes through, for even the air 
needs to be cut. 
It is narrower toward the back, and as he 
flies, the feet are drawn up or trail behind, and 
even the feathers lie backward. All this is so he 
can go swiftly through the air, and nothing, not | 
even a feather, will hold him back. 
To keep his body upright, so that he will not 
be top-heavy and tip over as he flies, his weight 
is mostly below the wings. 
If we should try to go through the air as fast 
as a bird goes, we should find it very hard to 
breathe. But the bird is made for it. When 
you come to study his anatomy, you will see 
what a wonderful little creature he is. 
