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, ILLIGER ; 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 (Sitta) 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 (Gallina) parade and walfc. gracefully and 

 run nimbly."! 



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. Ornith., vii., 55. f Selbome, Letter 84. 



