THE CLASS BIRDS. 311 



live on herbs, others on aquatic reptiles, others on small 

 ashes. The birds, called oiseaux de rivage, frequenting the 

 banks of lakes and rivers belong to this division, such as 

 the heron, the crane (Fig. 265), the stork (Fig. 240), the 

 butor (Fig. 266), the woodcock, the ibis (Fig. 229), the 

 echasse (Fig. 233), the water hen, the flamingo (Fig. 267), 

 and some other genera which live not near the waters, but 

 resemble the preceding in their conformation, such as the 

 ostrich (Fig. 232), the cassowary (Fig. 221), and the bustard. 



Fig. 265. The Crane. Fig. 266. The Butor of Europe. 



453. Finally, the palmipeds or swimming birds are 

 characterized by their legs, of moderate length, terminated by 

 large webbed feet. These serving the purpose of oars, are 

 formed by the toes being reunited to each other by an inter- 

 digital membrane of the common integument ; the legs are 

 placed far back, which is favourable for swimming, but ill 

 adapted for walking : as examples of this group we may men- 

 tion the manchot (Fig. 230), the penguin, which have the 

 wings so short th*at they cannot fly; the petrel, the albatros, the 

 mouettes, and the sea swallow (Fig. 268), which have, on the 



