The Wit of the Wild 



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until the return of twilight shall make it safe 

 for them to venture out in search of food and 

 pleasure. 



Of a creature leading such a life as this, so 

 strangely at variance with all our notions of 

 bird-nature, one might expect something un- 

 usual in appearance and structure. 



Taking the bird in your hand you are struck 

 by the general resemblance in its form to a 

 chimney-swift, and are not surprised to find it 

 classified in the books next to the swift family. 

 Here are the same muscular shoulders support- 

 ing long, pointed wings, the short, stout, wedge- 

 shaped tail, capable of wide expansion, and hav- 

 ing great power in guiding and checking flight, 

 as is needful in a bird whose activity in the 

 air must surpass that of a moth or grasshopper, 

 the short legs and weak feet, and the minute 

 beak terminating a vast mouth. Its legs are 

 feathered to the toes, perhaps to prevent ants 

 and other minute biting insects crawling up 

 upon them during its daylight sleep; and the 

 middle toe is greatly prolonged and furnished, 

 on the undersides of its claw, with " pectina- 

 *$ 164 So* 



