THE WADING AND SWIMMING BIRDS. 



179 



sometimes called Blue-stocking, from the color of its legs. 

 The Stilt Plovers, remarkable for the great length of 

 their legs, are included among the Avocets. 



290. The Rail family are characterized by their long 

 toes, enabling them to walk easily over soft mud or even 

 the leaves of water-plants. Some of the tribe have for 

 this purpose membranous margins along the sides of the 



toes, so that the foot 

 may have a consider- 

 able flat surface. The 

 Jacanas, of which a 

 specimen is given in 

 Fig. 146, can walk on 

 the broad leaves of 

 water-plants, and, as 

 these leaves sink a lit- 

 tle as the foot press- 

 es on them, the bird 

 has the appearance 

 of walking on the wa- 

 ter. These birds are 

 found in Asia, Africa, 

 and America. The 

 specimen represent- 

 ed in the figure is the 

 species found in Brazil and Guiana. 



291. Birds of the order Natatores have a peculiar pro- 

 vision for swimming. They are web-footed ; that is, the 

 toes are connected together by a membrane or web, as 

 seen in Fig. 147 (p. 180), so that the feet can be used as 

 oars or paddles. In the act of swimming, the toes are 

 brought near together when the foot is carried forward, 

 and they are spread out when it is carried backward. 

 The body of the bird is boat - shaped, so as to move 

 through the water easily. In those which are the most 

 aquatic in their habits, the feet are placed far back, so 

 that they may propel the body effectively ; and this gives 



Fig. 146. Jacana. 



