THE HERON AND ITS HAUNTS 85 



the wing from the shoulder, and feel the muscles that 

 move his broad wings in flight. Grand wings they 

 are. Take the tip of one flight feather and stretch 

 the wings ; or, better still, hold them out in front of 

 you with both hands. You will be surprised at their 

 length and width. Now finish with his legs and feet. 

 Wonderful feet they are, and the same may be said 

 of the other members of his tribe. Surely the stilts 

 of the marsh- men, with the flat pieces at the ends to 

 prevent their sinking and sticking in the soft surface 

 of the marshes, had their origin in the first instance 

 in a close examination of the heron's legs and feet. 

 Feel his long toes. How lithe they are I You can 

 bend them at your will, up and down and sideways. 

 So could the bird when alive, and in twenty different 

 directions to your one ; for he could climb and cling 

 to anything with them, perch on trees, step about 

 as gingerly as a cat, wade anywhere, and, when he 

 thought fit, swim also. He is a bird of varied accom- 

 plishments, and they are all useful to him, serving his 

 purpose each one in its turn, which is more than can 

 be said of the accomplishments of some members of 

 the human family. 



Take him for all in all, he is a feathered Moss- 

 Trooper. Luxuriously as he fares in summer, in 

 winter the tune is changed. No more lazy flappings 



