WATER BIRDS. 5 



WATER BIRDS. 



By these we mean those birds which live 

 on or near water, both salt and fresh, and 

 which obtain their subsistence from it. They 

 are of diverse forms and habits as will be 

 seen as we proceed. They also belong to 

 widely different groups. While none are giv- 

 en under this head which live away from wa- 

 ter, some which do occur about it are exclud- 

 ed in order not to break up natural group- 

 ings. Examples of these may be found in 

 the Kingfishers, Ospreys, Phalaropes, Coots, 

 and Gallinules. Most of the species included 

 in this section swim well, but exceptions to 

 this rule may be found in the Frigate Birds 

 which would be as helpless as swallows if they 

 found themselves in the water. Partial ex- 

 ceptions are seen in the Terns, but these will 

 be mentioned later. Most of the young are 

 covered with down when hatched, see plate 

 I for an example. 



