A LABRADOR SPRING 



foot concealed in front and one carried behind 

 appear to have only one foot. It is possible 

 that the birds do this to keep the feet warm, 

 but I have observed the habit in mild weather. 



The dexterity with which the herons manage 

 their ungainly legs, stretching them behind in 

 flight, is familiar to all. I once saw a great 

 blue heron attacked in mid-air from the rear 

 by a screaming tern. The heron was so startled 

 that it dropped for a moment its long legs, and 

 stretched out and around its snake-like neck. 

 It may be stated as a rule to which, as far as I 

 know, there are no exceptions, that all water 

 birds carry their feet behind in flight. 



It is probable that parrots, cuckoos and 

 kingfishers all carry their feet behind, but very 

 few observations have been made in these 

 difficult cases. 



In the woodpeckers the feet are I believe 

 carried in front, while instantaneous photo- 

 graphs of humming birds show that in hovering, 

 at least, the feet of this bird are also carried 

 in front. 



In the great order of perching birds it would 

 seem natural that the feet should be carried 

 in front as they fly from place to place, so as 



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