38 Ornithology. 



inclosing only a part of the limb, the ligature is not only 

 secure from slipping, but the stump more readily heals. 



If the wing of a bird is fractured by a shot as high up as 

 the joint g, the same operation may be performed with safety 

 by passina: the needle and thread a little within the skin, on 

 each side the bone, just above the fractured part, and tying 

 it as before described ; then with a sharp knife, cut the flesh 

 round at the fracture, and if any splinter of the bone projects, 

 it should be snipped oft' with a cutter, or a pair of scissors, as 

 close as possible to the flesh. In all these cases, the bird 

 may be set at liberty as soon as it is perceived that the liga- 

 ture has been sufficiently tightened to prevent bleeding, and 

 never require any further care. 



When the amputation is performed at i of joint c, the spu- 

 rious wing {Alula spuria) should be suffered to remain as it 

 gives a finish to the wing, and hides the stump. 



Feet of Birds. The large crooked talons of birds of prey, 

 and their hooked beaks, are well formed for securing and tear- 

 ing their victims. The formation of the feet of woodpeckers, 

 the toes being placed two forward and two backward, is well 

 calculated for climbing ; and the cuniform shape of the ex- 

 tremity of their bills is suited to the purpose of cutting holes 

 in decayed trees ; their tongue is also wonderfully contrived 

 to search out insects beyond the reach of their bill, by its 

 great length, which is double that of the bill at least. 



The legs and feet of aquatic birds are wonderfully formed 

 for accelerating their motion in that element, which is their 

 greatest security. The bone of the leg is sharp, and vastly 

 compressed sideways ; the toes, when the foot is brought for- 

 ward, close in behind each other in such a manner as to ex- 

 pose a very small surface in front, so that, in the action of 

 swimming, very little velocity is lost in bringing the legs for- 

 ward ; this is very conspicuous in the diver. Some aquatic 

 birds are web-footed before the whole length of the toes, as 

 in the ducks; others only half the length of the toes. Some 

 again have all four toes webbed ; the feet of others are fur- 

 nished with a fin-like membrane on each side of their toes. 

 There are also some which swim and dive well, whose toes 

 are long and slender, and not furnished with webs or fins, 

 such as the water hen and rail ; but these live as much on 

 land as in water. The gulls and terns, although web-footed, 

 seem incapable of diving ; the latter, indeed, never settles on 

 the water ; the former is so buoyant that it floats elegantly 

 on the surface. 



