102 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Characteristics of the crane kind. 



who have observed the legs of a snipe or a wood- 

 eock, will easily perceive my meaning; and how 

 different the surface of the skin that covers them 

 is from that of the pigeon or the partridge. 

 Most birds of this kind also, are bare of feathers 

 half way up the thigh ; at least, in all of them, 

 above the knee. Their long habits of wading in 

 the waters, and having their legs continually in 

 moisture, prevent the growth of feathers on 

 those parts ; so that there is a surprising differ- 

 ence between the leg of a crane, naked of feather* 

 almost up to the body, and the falcon, booted al- 

 most to the very toes. 



" The bill also is very distinguishable in most 

 of this class. It is, in general, longer than that 

 of other birds, and in some finely fluted on every 

 side; while at the point it is possessed of extreme 

 sensibility, and furnished with nerves, for the 

 better feeling their food at the bottom of 

 marshes, where it cannot be seen. Some birds 

 of this class are thus fitted with every conve- 

 nience: they have long legs, for wading; long 

 necks for stooping; long bills, for searching ; and 

 nervous claws, for feeling. Others ape not so 

 amply provided for ; as some have long bills, but 

 legs of no great length ; and others have long 

 necks but very short legs. It is a rule which 

 universally holds, that where the bird's legs are 

 long the neck is also long in proportion. It would 

 indeed be an incurable defect in the bird's 



