388 The Bird 
yet, when put upon the defensive, herons resort to much 
the same tactics as do the birds of prey. When cornered 
or wounded, so that escape by flight is impossible, the 
bird throws itself upon its back and, with uplifted claws 
and levelled beak, awaits the attack of its assailant. The 
talons and mandibles of a hawk offer ten sharp points 
which can all do severe damage; but the heron depends 
only on the grasping power of its toes to hold fast, while 
it strikes savage, spear-like blows with its beak. 
On the borderland of the fully webbed aquatic birds 
Fig. 304.—Comb on the toe of Heron. 
we find the flamingo, combining characters of the herons 
and ducks. Its haunts are the exposed coral-flats of 
tropical keys, where at any time a high tide or a 
severe storm may sweep all, old and young, from their 
feet. Then it is lucky indeed that the youngsters have 
webs between their toes in addition to their long legs. 
It is a case of swim or be drowned. 
In the great Orders of sea-birds, and in the ducks and 
their allies, the three front toes are joined together by 
