SYNDACTYLI. 123 



but their feet are not only the least efficient parts of 

 their own organisation, but they are among the least 

 efficient for any active purpose, that are to be found 

 in the whole class. There are birds which are worse 

 walkers, though these are but lame at that kind of 

 motion, and not much in the habit of using it ; but 

 then in most, if not all, other birds, which have the 

 feet badly adapted for walking, they are on that ac- 

 count better adapted for some other purpose. They 

 are climbing or swimming feet in proportion as they 

 are ill adapted for walking ; and even in the case of 

 the swifts, (though the common swift has got the name 

 of apus, or " footless,") the foot, short and weak as it 

 is, is well adapted for taking hold on an upright wall, 

 or the face of a rock ; and the toes and claws have 

 that form which is the very best adapted for these 

 purposes. But though the feet of the birds of this 

 division are, of course, as well adapted to the purposes 

 which they are intended to answer, as the feet of any 

 other birds, yet those purposes are not very import- 

 ant, nor very constantly required in the general eco- 

 nomy of the birds. Such of those birds as nestle in 

 holes in the earth, which is a habit with many of 

 them, use their feet adroitly in the digging of those 

 holes ; and they can also perch upon bushes or trees ; 

 but they generally feed upon the wing, and never 

 use the feet for any purposes, save those of digging 

 and repose. 



The birds of this division have some resemblance 

 to each other besides the mere shape of the feet; al- 

 though none of the names by which they have, either 

 in whole or in part, been called as a group, is very 

 applicable. Those which have been styled alcyonidee, 

 after the kingfisher, have neither the form nor the 

 habits of that genus, as it lives in great part upon 

 small fishes, while those other genera which are 



