THE SEASON WHY. 267 



" And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have 

 nests ; but the sou of man hath not where to lay his head." MATTHEW xui. 



by striking which against the water, the bird propels itself 

 along. 



1060. Why have birds that swim and dive short legs ? 



Because long legs would greatly impede their motions in the 

 water, by becoming repeatedly entangled in the weeds, and by 

 striking against the bottom. Waders, however, require long legs 

 because they have to move about through the tall vegetation of 

 marshy borders. 



Fig. 69. STILT-PLOVER AND DUCK. 



1061. Why have the feet of the heron, cormorant, Sfc., deep 

 rough notches upon their under surface ? 



Because, as those birds live by catching fish, they are enabled by 

 the notches in their feet, to hold the slippery creatures upon which 

 they feed, 



1062. Why have otters, seals, fyc., web-feet ? 



Because, while the feet enable them to walk upon the land, they 

 are equally effective in their action upon the water, and hence they 

 are adapted to the amphibious nature of the animals to which they 

 belong. 



1063. Why do the external ears of animals of prey, such 

 as cats, tigers, foxes, wolves, hyenas, fyc., bend forward ? 



Because ftiey collect the sounds that occur in the direction of Iht 



