388 



The Bird 



yet, when put upon the defensive, herons resort to much 

 the same tactics as do the birds of prey. When cornered 

 or wounded, so that escape by flight is impossible, the 

 bird throws itself upon its back and, with uplifted claws 

 and levelled beak, awaits the attack of its assailant. The 

 talons and mandibles of a hawk offer ten sharp points 

 which can all do severe damage; but the heron depends 

 only on the grasping power of its toes to hold fast, while 

 it strikes savage, spear-like blows with its beak. 



On the borderland of the fully webbed aquatic birds 



Fig. 304. — Comb on the toe of Heron. 



we find the flamingo, combining characters of the herons 

 and ducks. Its haunts are the exposed coral-flats of 

 tropical keys, where at any time a high tide or a 

 severe storm may sweep all, old and young, from their 

 feet. Then it is lucky indeed that the youngsters have 

 w^ebs between their toes in addition to their long legs. 

 It is a case of swim or be drowned. 



In the great Orders of sea-birds, and in the ducks and 

 their allies, the three front toes are joined together by 



