OUR HOME BIRDS. 
19 
respiration. He drew a long breath by way of re- 
ply, and then Clara exclaimed, “ I know, Miss 
Harson; it’s sighing.” 
“ No, dear,” was the reply, “ not sighing, except 
that sighing is really drawing a long breath. Res- 
piration means breathing. But our friend has not 
finished yet. He says, farther on : 
“ ‘ The bone of a bird is of a very different texture 
from that of man. It is hollow, contains air in- 
stead of marrow, and is throughout of a far more 
porous and spongy texture than the bone of man 
or of quadrupeds ; and this texture is retained even 
when the bird is not intended to fly. Into these 
hollow bones the air is forced from the lungs, and 
thus the body of the bird is rendered much lighter, 
bulk for bulk; and so plentiful is the supply of 
air through the bones that respiration can be par- 
tially carried on even when the ordinary channels 
are stopped.’ 
“ Now,” said Miss Harson, “ we will talk a little 
about this, because I want you all to understand it. 
The same gentleman here tells a little story that 
explains the large words he uses. He says that a 
man who had gone out gunning shot a bird that fell 
into the water. It was not killed, but only wounded ; 
and to put the poor little creature out of its misery, 
he held its head under the water until he thought it 
