So T H E W A T E R - F O W L. 



and by means of it retain moft of the marks which belong to their native 

 ftate ; nor do they form, by any means, the varieties and crofs breeds 

 that land-birds do; but are capable of returning fooner to their wild 

 ftate, as being lefs diftant from it. 



Between land-birds that Ihun the water, and water-fowl that inhabit it, 

 nature has placed a numerous tribe of a middle nature, whofe divided 

 toes indicate a refidencte on land, but whofe appetites attach them to the 

 ftreams ; living among waters, yet incapable of fwimming, their long J 

 legs fit them for wading, and their long bills for groping, in fhallows. ^ 



Birds habituated to marlhy places, may be known by the fcaly iurface 

 of their legs ; moft alfo are bare of feathers halfway up the thigh ; all 

 of them above the kneej their habits of wading continually in moillure 

 preventing the growth of feathers on thofe parts. 



The bill of this clafs is, in general, long, and in fome finely fluted 

 on every fide; its point poflefTes extreme fenfibility, being furnilhed with 

 nerves for the better feeling their food. Some have long legs, for wad- 

 ing; long necks, for ftooping ; long bills, for fearching; and nervous 

 points, for feeling. Others have long bills, but moderate legs ; others 

 long necks, but Ihort legs. Where a bird's legs are long, the neck is alfo 

 long i no bird is fo defeflive in conformation, as to ftand upon ftilts 

 above its food, without pofiefling an inftrument to reach it. They live 

 on fifh, or infefts, a few excepted ; even thofe called mudfuckers pro- 

 bably feed on worms. 



Such are the general habits of amphibious birds. Quitting thefe for 

 water birds, of manners truly aquatic, we come to thofe whofe firft 

 great diftindion appears in the toes, which are webbed together by broad 

 ikins, fo that they expand two broad oars to the water ; and, moving 

 them alternately, fwim with the greateft facility j the toes, by ftriking 

 backward, beat the water with their broadeft hollow furface; but when 

 advancing for a fecond blow, their front furface contracts, and offers no 

 refiftance againft the fluid to impede the birds progrefs. 



Web- footed birds have very fhort legs j were the kg long, its motions 

 would be (low and laborious. They have aclofer, warmer plumage than 

 birds of any other clafs j are alfo furnilhed with an animal-oil, that glazes 

 their furface, and keeps each feather feparate. This oil contributes alfo 

 to their warmth in the watry element. They abound with fat, fo that, by 

 the warmth of their feathers externally, and this natural lining internally, 

 t;hey ^re better defended againft the weather, than other claffes. 



q Som? 



