SOME VISITING CARDS. 299 



of the feet of birds, we are able to identify the 

 large ones as those made by the Hooper or Wild 

 Swan, whilst those of the latter were left behind 

 by the much smaller-footed Bewick's Swan. 



All along the margin of this shallow back- 

 water at regular intervals big footprints are 

 stamped upon the mud ; they are quite seven 

 inches from the tip of the middle claw to the end 

 of the hind one, and are webbed at the base of 

 the third and fourth toes. A Heron has been 

 here some time during the early hours of morning. 

 Not only has he wandered round the mud on the 

 shore, but he has waded into the pool, for there 

 are his footprints at the bottom of the water ; and 

 see, he has stood here for some time on his left 

 leg, evidently in moody contemplation, or perhaps 

 asleep. Here on the bank of the stream, just 

 where it flows into the sea, are one or two clear 

 impressions, which undoubtedly were made by a 

 Cormorant. How are we thus able to speak so 

 confidently, for the bird that made them is most 

 probably now far out at sea ? Simply because 

 these footprints are those of a web-footed bird, 

 and all the toes are joined together by a mem- 

 brane. Now, the Cormorants are the only group 

 of known birds in which the hind toe is connected 

 by a web with the other toes, so that the foot- 

 prints can never be mistaken. The Shag has a 

 smaller foot than the Cormorant, and that of the 

 Gannet is larger. Across the open muds the 

 Curlews have been running ; here are their large 



