22 



THE BIRDS 



Terrestrial Birds. This group embraces a great variety 

 of birds, most of which live wholly on land, and rarely, if 

 ever, go into the water. Their legs are usually long, the 

 shanks and thighs being entirely outside of the body. In 

 this group are found three distinct orders of birds. First, 

 wading birds, of which the heron is an example, these 

 having very long legs (Figs. 11 and 12). They frequent the 

 banks of rivers, and feed on small insects and vegetable 

 growth. The second order comprises the so-called scratching 



FIG. 11. A, Young Black-crowned Night Heron. Herons eat some frogs, 

 lizards, and other useful creatures, but offset this by destroying many insects. 

 B, Young Green Heron. (Photos by B. S. Bowdish, New Jersey Audubon Society.) 



birds, among which "is the domestic hen. Other common 

 members of this group are the domestic turkey, the pheasant, 

 etc. (Fig. 14). Pigeons represent a third order of bird 

 very closely related to the aerial type. They have extended 

 powers of flight, but also spend considerable of their time 

 on the ground. The quail and grouse are two common wild 

 species of the terrestrial group (Fig. 13). Their feet are 

 adapted to scratching, the toes being webbed slightly at 

 the base. As with our domestic birds the bill is short, thick 



