Heads and Necks 



281 



in miniature, growing almost a foot in length from the 

 centre of the breast ! 



The length of the neck of birds is often correlated 

 with that of the legs, a long-legged bird of necessity re- 

 quiring a long neck to permit its bill to reach the ground. 

 Geese and swans are an exception, and in their case we 



FIG. 225. Flamingoes Correlation of long neck with long legs. 



find that the long, mobile neck is of great use in making 

 up for the awkwardness of their waddle when on land, 

 and in allowing them to reach beneath them while floating 

 in shallow water, thus feeding along the bottom. 



Herons are uniformly so light of body that they would 

 have difficulty in steadying themselves in the air, were 

 it not that, when in flight, their necks become compressed 

 to an incredible thinness, thus acting as does the cut- 



