286 INTRODUCTION TO WATER BIRDS. 



and described. This class naturally forms an intermediate link between 

 the Land Birds and the Web-footed, partaking, in their form, food and 

 habits, of the characters of both ; and equally deserving of our regard 

 and admiration. Though formed for traversing watery situations, often 

 in company with the Swimmers, they differ from these last in one cir- 

 cumstance common to Land Birds, the separation of the toes nearly to 

 their origin ; and in the habit of seldom venturing beyond their depth. 

 On the other hand, they are furnished with legs of extraordinary length, 

 bare for a considerable space above the knees, by the assistance of which 

 they are enabled to walk about in the water in pursuit of their prey, 

 where the others are obliged to swim ; and also with necks of corres- 

 ponding length, by means of which they can search the bottom for food,, 

 where the others must have recourse to diving. The bills of one family 

 (the Herons) are strong, sharp pointed, and of considerable length ; 

 while the flexibility of the neck, the rapidity of its action, and remai-k- 

 able acuteness of sight, wonderfully fit them for watching, striking, and 

 securing their prey. Those whose food consists of more feeble and 

 sluggish insects, that lie concealed deeper in the mud, are provided 

 with bills of still greater extension, the rounded extremity of which pos- 

 sesses such nice sensibility, as to enable its possessor to detect its prey 

 the instant it comes in contact with it, though altogether beyond the 

 reach of sight. 



Other families of this same order, formed for traversing the sandy 

 sea-beach in search of small shell-fish that lurk just below the surface, 

 have the bills and legs necessarily shorter ; but their necessities requir- 

 ing them to be continually on the verge of the flowing or retreating 

 wave, the activity of their motions forms a striking contrast with the 

 patient habits of the Heron tribe, who sometimes stand fixed and mo- 

 tionless, for hours together, by the margin of the pool or stream, watch- 

 ing to surprise their scaly prey. 



Some few again, whose favorite food lies at the soft oozy bottoms of 

 shallow pools, have the bill so extremely slender and delicate, as to be 

 altogether unfit for penetrating either the muddy shores, or sandy 

 sea-beach ; though excellently adapted for its own particular range, 

 where lie the various kinds of food destined for their subsistence. Of 

 this kind are the Avosets of the present volume, who not only wade with 

 great activity in considerably deep water ; but having the feet nearly 

 half-webbed, combine in one the characters of both wader and swimmer. 



It is thus, that by studying the living manners of the different tribes in 

 their native retreats, we not only reconcile the singularity of some parts 

 of their conformation with Divine wisdom ; but are enabled to compre- 

 hend the reason of many othei's, which the pi-ide of certain closet natu- 

 ralists has arraigned as lame, defective and deformed. 



One observation more may be added : the migrations of this class of 



I 



