By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 297 



speed, and as the boatman, in rowing, feathers his oar after each 

 successive stroke, and in order to offer as small a surface as possible 

 to the resistance of the air and water, presents the thin knife-like 

 edge of the blade, while he draws it back for the next stroke; but 

 while pulling it through the water, presents the broad blade as a 

 means of obtaining a good purchase for his pull; just so is it with 

 the feet and legs of the swimming birds; at every stroke, the broad 

 flat leg, and the expanded webbed foot give a hearty thrust ; but 

 in withdrawing them again, preparatory to repeating the thrust, 

 the thin edge of the leg is presented to the water, and the toes are 

 drawn together, and closely folded up, presenting as little resistance 

 as possible, till they are spread out again for the next stroke. 

 With these admirable provisions for moving at will on the waves 

 all the swimmers are supplied, but as some families are more expert 

 in the water, and less able to leave it for the shore or the air than 

 others, there are considerable variations in the exact formations of 

 their feet; thus, some have only three toes; others have four, but 

 frequently three only are webbed, the fourth remaining free, and 

 articulated high up on the tarsus; others again, have a pendant 

 lobe or membrane, depending from the hind toe, while some have all 

 four toes completely webbed together; according to these different 

 formations, so their powers of swimming and diving are increased 

 or lessened; but all enjoy those faculties to a considerable extent. 



Such then are the general characters of the feet, as applicable to 

 the five orders : though those of certain individual species will in 

 some cases be found to vary from this description, it will on the 

 whole be found to be typical of the division to which it refers. 

 Thus we see the birds of prey armed with feet and claws, which form 

 the most powerful weapons for striking down and carrying off their 

 victims. The perchers provided with so exquisite a piece of 

 mechanism, as to enable them to seize, balance, and support them- 

 selves on a branch with ease. The ground birds furnished with 

 limbs so strong, muscles so powerful, and feet so adapted for the 

 purpose as to make them seek safety in running when beset by 

 foes. The waders though unable to swim, raised high out of the 

 water in which they seek their food, by the length of their legs, 



