AMONG THE BIRDS. 167 



For the purpose of learning something about their 

 general ways and habits, birds may be divided into 

 three large groups : birds of the water, birds of the 

 land, and birds of the air. One thing, however, must 

 be kept in mind, and that is, that a bird has a definite 

 object to live for. This object is threefold ; namely, 

 to secure and to eat its food; to protect its young; and 

 to escape from danger. 



The duck is certainly a water bird. It can fly, but 

 it can not easily perch, nor can it scratch like a chick- 

 en. It is made to get its food, to rear its young, and 

 to escape from danger in or about the water. The 

 duck's body, you will see, is shaped like the keel of a 

 well-made boat. Compare the wish-bone or merry- 

 thought of a duck with that of a chicken, and see how 

 much better the duck's keel is suited to sailing. Then 

 compare the feet of the two, and decide which foot is 

 the best paddle. The chicken's foot has scarcely any 

 web connecting the toes; the duck's foot has a web 

 extending to the ends of the three front toes. 



You have noticed, I suppose, that the duck has a 

 ludicrous walk. Some very fat 

 people walk in the same way. 

 Watch a race between chickens 

 and ducks when all are called to 

 be fed. How soon the ducks are 



left behind. Then watch a hen 



while the ducklings she has hatched sail on the water 

 they so happy, and she so miserable. Then the hen is 

 left behind. It is not difficult to decide which one 

 belongs to the water and which one to the land. 

 The duck's feet are wide apart, and its legs are joined 



