226 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



the American species wades " with expedition and 

 without fatigue*." 



The reasoning of naturalists, indeed, respecting 

 the conformation of the feet of birds, is, when not 

 derived from living specimens, as frequently wrong 

 as right. It has been usual, for example, since the 

 time, if we mistake not, of Gesner and Aldrovand, 

 to consider the peculiar structure of the foot in parrots 

 and woodpeckers, with two toes before and two 

 behind, as so peculiarly characteristic of climbing 

 birds, that in systematic classifications the birds 

 which have their toes so placed are denominated 

 climbing birds (Scansores, ILLIGER ; Grimpeurs, 

 LACEPEDE). But unfortunately for this division, 

 many species which have the feet so constructed have 

 never been observed to climb, such as the cuckoo and 

 the wryneck ; while many species which do climb, 

 such as the nuthatch (Sitta) and the creeper (Certhia)* 

 have their toes placed in the usual manner. 



White's remarks on the walk of birds are well 

 worth quoting. " Most small birds," he says, 

 " hop ; but wagtails and larks walk, moving their 

 legs alternately : all the duck kind waddle ; divers 

 and auks walk as if fettered, and stand erect on 

 their tails : crows and daws swagger in their walk ; 

 woodpeckers use their tails, which incline down- 

 ward, as a support when they run up trees : parrots, 

 like all other hook-clawed birds, walk awkwardly, 

 and make use of their bill as a third foot, climbing 

 and descending with ridiculous caution. All the 

 poultry (GallincB) parade and walk gracefully and 

 run nimbly (-." 



It is worthy of remark that as the bones commonly 

 considered as belonging to the leg in birds corre- 

 spond to the heel of the human foot, all birds must 

 * Amer. Ornith. vii. 55. f Selborne, Letter 84. 



