S BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



grasp other birds in the air. To this order belong the 

 Eagles, Falcon, Vultures, and many others. 



WATER BIRDS. 



The Water Birds are divided, as we have already 

 seen, into Waders and Swimmers. 



The Waders have long legs, long necks, and some 

 of them long bills. Most of them have their toes di- 

 vided, like the Land Birds, but some of them are web- 

 footed as far as the second joint. 



These birds appear admirably fitted in their forms 

 for the mode of life they lead. Their long legs enable 

 them to wade about in the water in search of their food, 

 while their long necks make it convenient for them 

 to seize their prey while it is swimming, or to search 

 for it at the bottom. Some of them have long blunt 

 bills with which they probe the mud and sand, and 

 from thence draw out their food. Others have sharp 

 bills, with which they strike their prey as with a spear. 

 Those which have their feet partly webbed, can swim 

 when necessity requires, but most of this order do 

 not venture into deep water. To this tribe belong the 

 Cranes, Bitterns, Curlews and Snipes. 



The Swimmers, have in general short legs, webbed 



What birds belong to this order? 

 How are the Water Birds divided ? 

 How are the Waders shaped ? 

 Are they web-footed? 

 Where do the Waders live ? 

 What birds belong to this order? 

 How do some of them obtain their food? 

 What birds belong to the Waders .? 



