AOUATIC BIRDS. 101 



General characteristics. 



done with respect to those of the other : she has 

 used as much precaution to render water-fowl fit 

 for swimming, as she did in forming land-fowl 

 for flight; she has defended their feathers with a 

 natural oil, and united their toes by a vvehhed 

 membrane; by which contrivances they have at 

 once security and motion. But between the 

 classes of land-birds that shun the water, and of 

 water-fowl that aie made for swimming and 

 Jiving on it, she has formed a very numerous 

 tribe of birds, that seem to partake of a middle 

 nature; that, with divided toes, seemingly fitted 

 to live upon land, are at the same time furnished 

 with appetites that chiefly attach them to the 

 waters. These can properly be called neither 

 land-birds ncr water-fowl, as they provide all 

 their sustenance from watery places, and yet are 

 unqualified to seek it in those depths where it is 

 often found in greatest plenty. 



" The crane kind are to be distinguished from 

 others rather by their appetites than their confor- 

 mation. Yet even in this respect they seem to 

 be sufficiently discriminated by nature : as they 

 are to live among the waters, yet are incapable of 

 swimming in them, most of them have long legs, 

 fitted for wading in shallow waters, or long bills 

 proper for groping in them. 



" Every bird of this kind, habituated to marshy 

 places, may be known, if not by the length of its 

 legs, at least by the scaly surface of them. Those 



