286 



THE REASON WHY. 



Shall I, like Curtius, desperate in my zeal, 

 O'er head and ears plunge for the common weal 

 Or rob Homo's ancient t/cese of all their glories, 

 And cackling ssave the monarchy of tories!" POPE. 



ORDER VIII. NATATORES. 



916. Why is the eighth order of birds called natatores ? 



From nato, to swim, this being an equivalent term for swimmers, 

 or water-fowl. 



917. The head of this order is the goose, and by Linneus it was termed arseres, 

 or the goose family. These birds display decidedly aquatic habits, swim with 

 facility, and are able to pass the greater part of their lives upon the water. 



918. Why are the natatores sometimes called by the name of 

 "palmipedes" ? 



From palma, the flat front 

 of the hand, and pes, a 

 foot implying that the birds 

 are palm, or web-footed, the 

 toes of the feet being con- 

 nected by a web or mem- 

 brane. 



919. Why has the goose bun considered a stupid bird? 



It has occasionally a stupid 

 look ; its walk, or rather waddle 

 give it also an absurd and im- 

 becile appearance ; but the ready 

 way in which its apprehensions 

 are excited seems to have been 

 the first cause for this imputed 

 character. 



