The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



It's the same way with my legs. Have you ever 

 seen me walking on the ground?" 



Johnny thought a moment. "No," said he, 

 "now you speak of it, I never have." 



"And have you ever seen me hopping about in 

 the branches of a tree?" persisted Skimmer. 



Again Johnny Chuck admitted that he never 

 had. 



"The only use I have for feet," continued Skim- 

 mer, "is for perching while I rest. I don't need 

 long legs for walking or hopping about, so Mother 

 Nature has made my legs very short. You see I 

 spend most of my time in the air." 



"I suppose it's the same way with your cousin, 

 Sooty the Chimney Swallow," said Johnny. 



"That shows just how much some people know ! " 

 twittered Skimmer indignantly. "The idea of 

 calling Sooty a Swallow ! The very idea ! I'd 

 have you to know, Johnny Chuck, that Sooty isn't 

 even related to me. He's a Swift, and not a 

 Swallow." 



"He looks like a Swallow," protested Johnny 

 Chuck. 



"He doesn't either. You just think he does 

 because he happens to spend most of his time in 

 the air the way we Swallows do," sputtered Skim- 

 mer. "The Swallow family never would admit 

 such a homely looking fellow as he is as a member. 

 [ 108 1 ' 



