BIRDS OF KANSAS 



17 



the three toes in front and the 

 hind toe, all joined together by 

 a web (toti-palmate) (see cut 

 No. 4) ; the Ducks and Geese 

 have the three front toes only 

 united (palmate) (see cut No. 

 2); while in the " Mud Hen," 

 " Coot," each toe has a separate 



lobed membrane on it (lobed). 

 (See cut No. 3). 



A type that must not be 

 overlooked is the perching 

 foot ( see cut No. 1 ) of the 

 song birds, of which those of 

 "Downy," the Kingfisher 

 and the Hawk are varieties 

 adapted for special uses. The 

 toes of the robin are entirely 

 separate. They are all on the 

 same level, and the hind toe is 

 long, in order to more effectually 

 grasp a twig. The toes do not 

 spread out so much as in the 

 Hawk, nor are they so rough on 



the under surface. This is the perch- 

 ing foot. ( See cut No. 1 ) . 



To sum up, then, we have noticed 

 three principal kinds of feet, the 

 perching, the walking or wading, 

 and the swimming. 



A bird that finds its particular 

 kind of food from the water's edge, 

 or on the bottom where the water is 

 shallow, needs a wide bill with an 

 2 



