ELASTIC SURFACES. 249 



tion. The length of the toes enables these birds to 

 walk tolerably well, though the legs are articulated 

 so far back as to give them the position of those of a 



Gallinule. 



swimming bird ; and while all the species inhabit 

 closer to" the water than any other birds which have 

 not the feet webbed, some of them have the toes 

 lobed, and are excellent swimmers, though even these 

 are most partial to those places of ponds and lakes 



Common Coot. 



in which there are aquatic plants. There is an 

 instance of the lobed form in the foot of the common 

 coot. 



WALKING AND SCRAPING FEET. 



These are more peculiarly the feet of the gallinaceous 

 birds, all of which walk firmly on the ground, or stand- 



