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Bird- Lore 



OWL GRASPING MEAT 



Is it not rather disconcerting to find that this same arrangement of toes 

 also holds good for the other orders of birds mentioned above, — the Parrots, 

 Cuckoos and Owls, their toes also all pointing far apart? This is an excel- 

 lent example of what is called par- 

 allelism, or the independent devel- 

 opment of similar structures. 



Parrots use their feet for more 

 different purposes than any other 

 birds — they are the monkeys of the 

 feathered world. They climb wires 

 or branches one step after the 

 other, their beaks taking the place 

 of a third foot in this style of loco- 

 motion. They pick up food, such 

 as a banana or a nut, and, holding 

 it in the foot while eating, turn it 

 from side to side, as we revolve an 

 apple in our hand. With their feet 

 they preen their plumage and push 

 each other aside, when too closely 

 crowded. In fact, the functions of the feet and toes of Parrots approach 

 nearer to those of a human hand than do the limbs of any other order 

 of birds. 



The Owls can move their outer toes backward or forward at will, thus 

 being able to assume the arrangement of toes both of a Crow and of a Par- 

 rot. However, the yoke, or two and two plan, is the one most commonly 

 seen among these birds. With such an automatic vise-trap ready to de- 

 scend silently and with deadly 

 swiftness upon him, the little 

 mouse in the grass has indeed 

 need ever to be on the alert. The 

 talons of Owls are curved and 

 under the control of tendons of 

 great strength. Their chief use is 

 to capture, living prey and to hold 

 it firmly while it is torn to pieces 

 by the beak. 



The deserts and plains where 

 the Road -runner dwells are also 

 the home of the Burrowing Owl, 

 which finds in its sharp little 

 talons admirable picks and shovels, 

 — certainly a novel use for yoked - 



FOOT OF SNOWY OWL 



