40 Handbook of Nature-Study 



pushing the bird along. We often laugh at a duck on land, since its short 

 legs are so far apart and so far back that its walk is necessarily an awk- 

 ward waddle; but we must always remember that the duck is naturally 

 a water bird, and on the water its movements are graceful. Think once, 

 how a hen would appear if she attempted to swim! The duck's body is 

 so illy balanced on its short legs that it cannot run rapidly; and if chased 

 even a short distance, will fall dead from the effort, as many a country 

 child has discovered to his sorrow when he tried to drive the ducks home 

 from the creek or pond to coop. The long, hind claw of the hen enables 

 her to clasp a roost firmly during the night; a duck's foot could not do 

 this and the duck sleeps squatting on the ground. However, the Mus- 

 covy ducks, which are not good swimmers, have been known to perch. 



LESSON VI 

 The Feet of Birds 



Leading thought — The feet of birds are shaped so as to assist the bird in 

 getting its food as well as for locomotion. 



Methods — The pupils should have opportunity to observe the chicken 

 or hen and a duck as they move about; they should also observe the 

 duck swimming. 



Observations — i. Are the toes of the hen long and strong? Have 

 they long, sharp claws at their tips? 



2. How are the legs and feet of the hen covered and protected? 



3. How are the hen's feet and legs fitted for scratching the earth, 

 and why does she wish to scratch the earth? 



4. Can a hen run rapidly? What sort of a track does she make? 



5. You number your fingers with the thumb as number one and the 

 little finger as five. How do you think the hen's toes are numbered? 



6. Has the duck as many toes as the hen? What is the chief 

 difference between the feet of the duck and the hen ? 



7. Which of the duck's toes are connected by a web? Does the 

 web extend to the tips of the toes? What is the web for and how does it 

 help the duck? 



8. Are the duck's legs as long as the hen's? Are they placed 

 farther forward or farther back than those of the hen ? Are they farther 

 apart? 



9. Can a duck run as well as a hen? Can the hen swim at all? 



10. Where does the hen sleep and how does she hold on to her 

 perch? Could the duck hold on to a perch? Does the duck need to 

 perch while sleeping? 



