BIRDS 



137 



of the eagles, hawks, and owls there are powerful claws for 

 seizing and holding prey, while ducks and geese have 

 long and webbed toes, adapted to swimming. Seed-eating 

 birds have weak claws which serve merely for perching. 

 Chimney swifts, that spend most of their time in flight 

 searching for food, have well developed wings, and feet 

 used for clinging. Study Figures 139, 140, 149, 155. 



Figure 137. — Herring Gulls. 



The beaks of birds show great variation and adaptation 

 for defense and food getting. Hawks, owls, and eagles 

 have the upper jaw curved over, hooked, and adapted for 

 tearing the food; herons and bitterns have the beak modi- 

 fied into a long, pointed weapon of offense and defense ; 

 grosbeaks (gros'beks) and finches have a short, stout beak 

 for crushing seeds and other hard foods; while humming 

 birds have a long, slender beak which in some kinds is 

 curved so that they may reach the bottom of certain 

 flowers. Study Figures 137, 143, 144, 153, 154. 



