418 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



admirably contrived for cracking the seeds or 

 grain upon which it feeds, or for seizing the softer 

 parts of plants, which at other seasons of the year 

 constitute its principal support, or, indeed, for 

 picking up any sort of tempting bit likely to prove 

 acceptable to the little family at home, or suited 

 to its own uses. The bills of many other of our 

 smaller birds, though extremely minute, are ad- 

 mirable and perfect instruments. Let any one 

 look at the nest of a chaffinch, or the still more 

 delicate and well-concealed structure of a wren, 

 and contrast it with the "little bill" which " did all" 

 or a greater part of this beautiful work. The bill 

 of the bottle-tit is so very short that it barely 

 appears beyond the feathers, yet this tiny instru- 

 ment is one of the most active and efficient 

 mechanisms in the whole animal economy. It can 

 bite sharply and hold firmly, and build beautifully. 

 Thus, though on a very small scale, the bill of this 

 interesting little bird is a perfect model, exhibiting 

 the greatest degree of usefulness with the least 

 expenditure of material and force. 



Leaving the bills of birds, we must study for a 

 short time a scarcely less characteristic or im- 

 portant part of their structure the foot. It has 



