BIEDS. 



285 



5. The NATATOEES, a very large class of Birds, live almost 

 entirely in the water, they are web-footed and swim beauti- 

 fully, as the Swans, Greese, Ducks, &c. (fig 57) ; these feed in 

 general upon the vegetation growing in, and on the margin of 



FIG. 57. 1, SWAN (Cygnus mansuetus) ; 2, GEESE (Anser ferus) 

 3 and 4, DUCK and WILD DUCKS (Anas Boschas). 



the water, also on worms, larvae, &c. ; they have a beautiful 

 mode of rising and flying in a line, when disturbed from 

 their haunts, and this line is maintaned for a long distance, 

 and is sometimes double like the letter V, one bird leading 

 and the others following in single file. 



