294 HINTS TO ORNITHOLOGISTS. 



would not want it ; for it has tremendous spurs on 

 its pinions, well adapted, and rightly placed, to 

 punish an opponent. 



Were we to estimate the powers of walking in 

 the coots by the outward appearance of their feet, 

 we might inform the public that " they are such 

 bad walkers that they appear to stagger in their 

 gait, and that they walk with difficulty and un- 

 steadiness." But when we see them on land, every 

 day throughout the winter, feeding on grass with 

 the wigeons, except in a great fall of snow, we 

 have proof positive, by their aptitude at walking, 

 and by their velocity in running, that our judgment 

 has been rash, and that our theory is unsound. 



We are informed that jays live more amongst 

 trees than upon the ground ; and the arboreal pro- 

 pensity of this bird is inferred from the shape of its 

 toes. Now, let it be remembered, that, with the 

 exception of the short periods when garden fruits 

 and acorns are ripe, this bird must be upon the 

 ground to procure a maintenance. Here, where he 

 is protected, he may be seen upon the ground at 

 all hours of the day. 



The common wagtail, too, is pronounced to be a 

 " truly terrestrial bird," on account of the formation 

 of his toes. Come hither, and you shall see the 

 common wagtail in the daily habit of resorting to 

 the trees. 



Those who derive their knowledge of birds from 

 the inspection of their external anatomy alone, may 

 write on the use of bristles at the mouths of 

 birds ; and they may tell us that, in proportion as 



