326 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. LIII 



ing already lost its first, second and fifth toes, only the 

 third and fourth remaining. The outer, fourth toe is far 

 smaller than the inner third toe, and the condition of its 



claw as well as its smaller size lead one to infer that it also 

 is on the road to disappearance (Fig. 3). In northern 

 birds the claw of the fourth toe is frequently discernible, 

 though altogether functionless, never reaching the ground ; 



