BIRDS 



77 



for swimming in the water. Common examples of such birds are 

 ducks, geese, albatross, and gulls (Fig. 59). Near the tail region of 

 most of these birds an oil gland is developed, from which the bird 

 obtains the oil that it uses in keeping its feathers from getting 

 water-soaked ; this is likewise true of all other birds. As one would 

 expect, a large number of these 

 species feed upon fish and other 

 water animals. 



59. Wading birds. — All the 

 birds in tliis group have long, slen- 

 der legs, which adapt them for 

 wading out into the water for food. 

 Such birds are the herons (Fig. 60), 

 egrets, storks, and cranes. The 

 flamingoes (Fig. 61) have webbed 

 feet like swimming birds, and so they 

 are regarded as connecting links be- 

 tween swimming and wading birds. 



..„,,. , . , rrii ■ Fig. 62. — Bobwhite. 



60. Scratching birds. — This 



group includes the domesticated chicken and turkey and the quail 



(Fig. 62) . All our various forms of chickens are descended from the 



Fig. 63. — Male and female jungle fowl. (Photographed by E. R. Sanborn, 

 from specimens of the American Museum of Natural Historj'.) 



