266 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 
the testimony of Wilson that the American species 
wades ‘“‘ with expedition and without fatigue.”* 
The reasoning of naturalists, indeed, respecting 
the conformation of the feet of birds is, when not 
derived from living specimens, as frequently wrong 
as right. It has been usual, for example, since the 
time, if we mistake not, of Gesner and Aldrovand, 
to consider the peculiar structure of the foot in par- 
rots and woodpeckers, with two toes before and 
two behind, as so peculiarly characteristic of climb- 
ing birds, that in systematic classifications the birds 
which have their toes so placed are denominated 
climbing birds (Scansores, Inuiczer; Grimpeurs, La- 
cePeDE). But, unfortunately for this division, many 
species which have the feet so constructed have 
never been observed to climb, such as the cuckoo 
and the wryneck, while many species which do 
climb, such as the nuthatch (Sz/ta) and the creeper 
(Certhia), have their toes placed in the usual man- 
ner. 
White’s remarks on the walk of birds are well 
worth quoting. ‘* Most small birds,” he says, “ hop; 
but wagtails and larks walk, moving their legs al- 
ternately ; all the duck kind waddle; divers and 
auks walk as if fettered, and stand erect on their 
tails; crows and daws swagger in their walk; 
woodpeckers use their tails, which incline down- 
ward, as a support when they run up trees; parrots, 
like all other hookclawed birds, walk awkwardly, 
and make use of their bill as a third foot, climbing 
and descending with ridiculous caution. All the 
poultry (Galline) parade and walk gracefully and 
run nimbly.”t 
One of the most singular circumstances which we 
have met with respecting the walk of birds occurs 
in the Chinese jacana (Parra sinensis, LATHAM), 
whose enormously long toes enable it to walk with 
agility from leaf to leaf of the great water-lily. 
* Amer. Omith., vii., 55. t+ Selborne, Letter 84, 
