110 that's it: 



cords, 4. Some birds seldom take 

 to the wing, but obtain their 

 subsistence from the ground, over 

 which thej wander in pursuit of 

 food. It is remarkable that these 



396. 



birds generally build their nests 

 on or near the ground, and the 

 young ones run about a few 

 hours after they are hatched, and 

 help to find food for themselves. 

 This is the case with chickens, 



5 G 



397. 



young partridges, 5, and various 

 others. But with birds of power- 

 ful flight, having to pursue swift 

 insects, the young are deficient 

 of the power necessary for such 

 muscular exertions. They there- 

 fore remain in their nests for a 

 considerable time, are attended 

 by the parent bird, and acquire 

 the power of flying by short and 

 easy gradations. 



The feet of birds, 7, present 

 very distinctive marks for obser- 

 vation. In most species the toes 

 are four in number, and in the 



majority of these three are di- 

 rected forward, and one turned 

 back. This is the case with the 

 eagle, 8, and falcon, 9, the toes 

 in these and other birds of prey, 

 being pointed with long, curved, 

 and sharp talons, 10. The wood- 

 pecker has two forward and two 

 backward toes, 11 ; so also has 



7 



398. 



the parrot. The night-jar has 

 three forward toes, one of which 

 is extended to a considerable 

 length, 12. The swift has ail toes 

 forward, 13 : it clings with them 

 to walls and cliffs. Larks have 

 the backward claw long and 

 slender, 14. The ostrich has 

 only two toes, 15 ; the cassowary 

 has three, 16, all in front. Do- 

 mestic fowls, and others of the 

 same family, have four toes, and 

 a spur. 



The feet of water birds have 

 their distinguishing peculiarities. 

 Birds which inhabit localities 

 where their feet come in contact 

 with aquatic plants, have thair 



