Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . web-feet preclude themfrom settling on trees; they, therefore, in the hours of darkness anddanger, betake themselves to their own element, the water, where, amidstlarge lakes and pools, like ships riding at anchor, they float the wholenight long in peace and security. 868. Why does the plumage of the pheasant taperof to a point? The haunts of these b
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . web-feet preclude themfrom settling on trees; they, therefore, in the hours of darkness anddanger, betake themselves to their own element, the water, where, amidstlarge lakes and pools, like ships riding at anchor, they float the wholenight long in peace and security. 868. Why does the plumage of the pheasant taperof to a point? The haunts of these birds are among shrubs, bushes,and tall herbage, through which they have to make theirway with as little rustling as possible: this their pointedtails enable them to do most perfectly. 869. Why do pheasants prefer larch trees to perchupon? Because the branches of this tree grow at nearly rightangles from the stem; which renders the sitting positionof the birds peculiarly easy. 870. Why have the eggs of guinea fowls so hard a shell? Because these birdsdeposit their eggs on theground, and were theshells not harder thanthose of ordinary eggs,they would be brokenby many accidentalcauses. The eggs, thoughlaid on the ground, areusually KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 273 Oer the wild waste the stupid ostrich straysIn devious search to pick her scanty meal,Whose fierce digestion gnaws the temper^ steel.—Mickin. 871. Why do jowls and other birds hustle themselvesin the dust? Because by this action they rid themselves of the verminwith which they are liable to be troubled. 872. On the same principle, swine wallow in the mire, and therhinoceros and the elephant roll their bodies in the mud to defend themfrom the breeze-fly. ORDER VI.—CURSORES. Why is the order cursores so termed? birds comprehended therein are distin- 873 Because theguished by possessing great powers of locomotion afoot
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
