3(12 HISTORY OF 



^rom others rather liy tlieir appetites than their conformation. 

 Yet even in this respect they seem to be sufficiently discrimi- 

 nated by nature : as they are to live among the waters, yet are 

 incapable of swimming in them, most of them have long legs, 

 fitted for wading in shallow waters, or long bills proper for grop- 

 ing in them. 



Every bird of this kind, habituated to marshy places, may be 

 known, if not by the length of its legs, at least by the scaly sur- 

 face of them. Those who have observed the legs of a snipe or 

 a woodcock, will easily perceive my meaning ; and how different 

 the surface of the skin that covers them is from that of the 

 pigeon or the partridge. Most birds of this kind also, are bare 

 of feathers half way up the thigh ; at least, in all of them, above 

 the knee Their long habits of wading in the waters, and hav- 

 ing their legs continually in moisture, prevents the growth of 

 feathers on those parts ; so that there is a surprising difference 

 between the legs of a crane, naked of feathers almost up to the 

 body, and the falcon, booted almost to the very toes. 



The bill is also very distinguishable in most of this class. It 

 is, in general, longer than that of other birds, and in some finely 

 fluted on every side ; while at the point it is possessed of extreme 

 sensibility, and furnished with nerves, for the better feeling their 

 food at the bottom of marshes, where it cannot be seen. Some 

 birds of this class are thus fitted with every convenience ; they 

 have long legs, for wading j long necks for stooping ; long bills, 

 for searching ; and nervous points, for feeling. Others are not 

 to amply provided for ; as some have long bills, but legs of no 

 great length ; and others have long necks, but very short legs. 

 It is a rule which universally holds, that where the bird's legs 

 are long, the neck is also long in proportion. It would indeed 

 be an incurable defect in the bird's conformation, to be lifted 

 upon stilts above its food, without being furnished with an in- 

 strument to reach it. 



If we consider the natural power of this class, in a compara- 

 tive view, they will seem rather inferior to those of every other 

 tribe. Their nests are more simple than those of the sparrow ; 

 and their methods of obtaining food less ingenious than those of 

 the falcon ; the pie exceeds them in cunning ; and though they 

 have all the voraciousness of the poultry tribe, they want their 

 fecundity. None of this kind, therefore, have been taken into 



