26 
BIRD-LIFE. 
a stroke of the wings at each spring. The Parrot climbs 
like his cousin, the monkey, inasmuch as he grasps 
branch after branch first with the fore-hand, in his case 
represented by the beak, and then seizing hold with the 
feet draws the body forward. Lastly, the Tomtit flies 
from one twig to another, actively grasping these in 
every conceivable manner with its claws. 
In swimming and diving the bird again uses the tail 
and wings to assist its legs, according to circumstances. 
The simplest mode of swimming, however, is confined to 
a movement on the surface of the water: that bird which, 
on account of its frame and plumage, is comparatively the 
lightest, is, in the abstract, excellently adapted for swim¬ 
ming. Dead birds, as well as living ones, float on the 
surface of the water. All land birds have, however, 
a great fear of water, which is only overcome on occasions 
of imminent danger; such as, for example, that of a 
Pigeon, hard pressed by a Hawk, dashing into a pond or 
river to escape the robber. The feathers of the land-bird 
are not in the least fitted for swimming; and of this it 
seems to be well aware : hence the anxiety of a motherly 
old Hen, which has just hatched a brood of Ducklings; 
in them the voice of Nature is more powerful than educa¬ 
tion. It is far otherwise with true swimming-birds ; 
their feathers, in all the variations they present to us, are 
always so adapted as to make a sojourn on the water both 
safe and pleasant. Comparing a swimming-bird with a 
boat, we may consider the legs as oars and the tail as a 
rudder. A bird, like a boat, floats on the water without 
the slightest exertion; it need not stir a limb, which a 
quadruped is, of necessity, obliged to do. Each stroke of 
the feet has no other purpose than the locomotion of the 
body, and is in no wise connected with the floating power 
