182 SOME COMMON LAND-BIRDS. 



heavy pads under each joint, it is true, to enable the bird to 

 grasp as firmly as possible whatever it lays hold of ; but that 

 is not what I mean. Do you see that the middle toe is so long 

 that it will wrap almost around a small bird, and its claw will 

 be struck in near the claw of the hind toe ? This is a weak- 

 ness. For a strong grip the claws should oppose each other 

 fairly and strike the body of the victim, not on the same side, 

 but on opposite sides. In the other hawks we find this ar- 

 rangement, and we notice that the middle toe bears the largest, 

 strongest claw. In this bird we see that it is the inner toe, 

 the second toe, that has the largest nail. This toe, then, does 

 the same work as the middle toe of the other hawks in the 

 capture of small prey, and the long middle toe is of particular 

 service with larger game, giving a wider grip and enabling 

 the hawk, whether he strikes small game or large, to hold 

 with equal security. It is well known that this bold little 

 hawk frequently attacks birds larger than himself, which he 

 cannot paralyze and cannot carry oft' at once. By this device 

 he is enabled to hold on until he tires them out. The very 

 possession of such a foot is an evidence of his ferocity and 

 bloodthirstiness. 



