266 FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



inhabiting birds have these long toes also. The short- 

 legged, slim-bodied rails have toes all out of proportion to 

 the length of leg and body ; but their efficiency is such that 

 the bird easily finds its food or eludes its enemy in its 

 marsh home. 



Parrots use their feet as a hand, holding the food in 

 them while tearing it in pieces for devouring. Hawks often 

 carry nesting material in their claws; and birds of prey 

 as a class hold their prey in the talons while tearing it 

 into morsels. Ostriches have especially strong feet, 

 besides being able to kick. The grouse have naked feet 

 in the summer ; but in winter, the feet are thickly feathered 

 to the toes. 



In the matter of getting about on the ground and in 

 trees, birds use their feet variously. For instance: 

 do you know whether a blackbird, when it is on the ground, 

 puts one foot before the other, as we do in walking; or 

 does it hop, using both feet alike? How does the black- 

 bird get about among the tree leaves? Do robins, blue- 

 birds, domestic pigeons and chickens, quails, hawks, 

 and eagles, walk or hop? How do the woodpecker and 

 the brown creeper use their feet when going about over 

 the tree trunk? The flickers are often seen on the ground 

 looking for ants; how do they use their feet at this time? 

 Does the domestic hen stand on one foot while she scratches 

 with the other? Does the parrot use both feet together, 

 or alternately? If you are fortunate enough to discover 

 a bird at work building its nest, try to discover whether 

 it uses both bill and feet, or only one of these members, 

 and which one? 



How do domestic ducks use their feet in swimming, 

 alternately or simultaneously? Do they dive? If so, 

 for what purpose ? Do they eat afloat or ashore ? 



