260 



A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



FOOT OF WOODPECKER. 



enlarge considerably on the wonderful construction of the foot 

 of this interesting and useful bird, but It must suffice to say 

 that the toes can be spread over an extensive area so that the 

 grasp on the tree is more effectual and secure, this being an 

 important factor to the bird whilst ascending the trunk or limbs 

 of trees, and yet more so, while, exerting all its force, it is 

 hammering at the bark or scooping out a hole for its nest. 

 Nature has many wondrous workings 1 



One of the prettiest sights to be seen on the golden pebbly 

 shore near the sea, is to watch the Terns in their ever 



graceful movements. Country folk 

 call these birds Sea-Swallows, 

 others know them as Gulls! I 

 presume the former name is given 

 to them because of their rapid 

 flight, the latter because all sea 



birds are Gulls to some people. The foot is webbed the first 

 web-footed bird yet noticed here the three anterior toes being 

 moderately webbed, but the hind toe is free. We have in 

 the British Isles five members of this interesting family which 

 regularly breed with us. These are the Common, Arctic, Les- 

 ser, Sandwich, and last, but not least, the beautiful little Rose- 

 ate Tern. This latter, however, is becoming rare, a fact which 

 should cause widespread regret. Whether 

 feminine vanity is responsible in a measure 

 for this or not I should not care to say, 

 but I have of late seen several hats 

 containing one of these precious little 

 jewels in the form of a wretched caricature 

 of bird life. 



The foot of the Grebe better known 

 as the Dab or Dob-Chick, and in Yorkshire 

 by the name of Tom Puddings could 



not possibly be excluded from a sketch of this character. The 

 foot is of a tri-oared description, and the situation of the legs 

 is thrown as far backwards as possible. It is a water bird, a 

 regular lover of the art of natation. Land is not its home ; 

 upon it, it is ungainly, and sometimes shuffles along after th$ 

 manner of a Seal. When diving in pursuit of its prey, it uses 



FOOT OF TERN. 



