THE LESSON A GOOSE STARTED 



Mother told me that there is another large group of 

 birds called waders. Unlike the swimmers they have very 

 small or no webs on their feet and could not swim rapidly 

 if they desired ; but they have long legs and wade along the 

 shores of rivers and streams catching frogs, minnows, and 

 such things as come their way. Some have long necks as 

 well, and so can get their food down deep in the water. 

 Some of these waders also run over the land and use their 

 long bills for picking up worms, insects, etc. The waders 

 are the cranes, storks, snipes, sandpipers, herons, etc. 



Next I learned about the birds of prey that have strong 

 beaks with a hook on the end for tearing flesh. These 

 birds all have powerful wings, so that they can fly long 

 distances quickly. If it were not for these powerful wings 

 they might not be able to catch their prey. Most of these 

 birds, except owls, have a sharp hooked beak, and strong 

 claws called talons which enable them to catch and hold 

 their prey. Some of these birds live on dead animals, 

 but even they have the hooked beak and the talons in 

 order to tear their food into pieces. It is easy to recog- 

 nize this group of birds by their beaks and talons. They 

 are the hawks, vultures, and eagles. 



"Did you ever notice," she said, "that on every bright, 

 clear day the old hens get out and scratch in the dirt for 

 their food and how they like to wallow in dust and ashes ?" 

 There is a great group of birds that have strong feet and 

 legs with stout nails for doing just this sort of thing, and 

 they are known as the scratchers. In this group come 

 the quails, pheasants, turkeys, guineas, chickens, etc. They 

 have plump heavy bodies and comparatively short stubby 

 wings; and while they fly very rapidly they fly only short 

 distances before alighting. 



By this time I was so interested that I could be per- 



