FISHING BIRDS. 361 



the margins ; and in others, it is plain in the edges and 

 strongly hooked at the tip. In both, it thus has one of the 

 characters of the bill of the diving mergansers ; but the ab- 

 sence of the other indicates that, when the bill is used, it 

 must be thrust home with more power than any bird can 

 give to its bill immersed in water, and having the resistance 

 of that to overcome. Of the two, the straight bill may be 

 considered as the more dashing instrument, the one which is 



O ' 



sent down from the greatest height, and for the capture of 

 the largest prey. 



The feet are, however, perhaps, the most characteristic 

 organs, and they answer many purposes, and, among these, 

 one which no other of the variedly formed feet of birds 

 appears to be expressly formed for answering. They are not 

 placed quite so far backward as in the swimmers and divers, 

 though, as the weight of the body lies farther forward than 

 in those, they answer well for swimming when that is neces- 

 sary. The tarsi are stronger and more tendinous than in 

 the swimmers ; they are straighter set ; the toes collapse 



Cormorants Foot. 



more ; and thus the birds can walk better, and also stand 

 firm on the slippery points of rocks. The peculiarity in form 



