THE CRANE. 167 



force them through the water. Some of the Waders 

 have a small membrane towards the roots of the toes, 

 which enables them to swim when necessary. Most 

 of them have legs of uncommon length, so that they 

 can walk about in the water ; and also long necks, by 

 means of which they search the bottom for food. 



To this Order of Birds belong the Cranes, Storks, 

 Herons, Bitterns, Snipes, and others. 



THE CRANE. 



The Cranes have long legs, long necks, and long, 

 sharp bills. Their toes are four in number, and are 

 connected by a membrane, as far as the second joint. 



The Cranes may in general be known from the 

 herons, by their greater size, by their comparatively 

 shorter bills, by their having no extra feathers on the 

 head, and by the broad flag-like plumage which rises 

 from the backhand projects over the tail. These birds 

 live chiefly on fish, which they catch by striking them 

 with their bills. They differ considerably in respect 

 to size, but all of them have similar habits. 



THE WHOOPING CRANE. 



How large a bird is the Whooping Crane ? 



The Whooping Crane is four feet and a half in 

 length, from the point of the bill to the tail. When 

 standing, his head is five feet from the ground ; and 

 his bill is six inches long. 



