. Natural history. For the use of schools and families. Zoology. THE WADIKG AND SWIMMING BIRDS. 179 sometimes called Blue-stocking, from the color of its legs. The Stilt Plovers, remarkable for the great length of their legs, are included among the Avocets. 290. The Rail family are characterized by their long toes, enabling them to walk easily over soft mud or even the leaves of water-plants. Some of the tribe have for this purpose membranous margins along the sides of the toes, so that the foot may have a consider- able flat surface. The Jacanas, of which a specimen is given in Fig. 146, can
. Natural history. For the use of schools and families. Zoology. THE WADIKG AND SWIMMING BIRDS. 179 sometimes called Blue-stocking, from the color of its legs. The Stilt Plovers, remarkable for the great length of their legs, are included among the Avocets. 290. The Rail family are characterized by their long toes, enabling them to walk easily over soft mud or even the leaves of water-plants. Some of the tribe have for this purpose membranous margins along the sides of the toes, so that the foot may have a consider- able flat surface. The Jacanas, of which a specimen is given in Fig. 146, can walk on the broad leaves of water-plants, and, as these leaves sink a lit- tle as the foot press- es on them, the bird has the appearance of walking on the wa- ter. These birds are found in Asia, Africa, and America. The specimen represent- ed in the figure is the ppecies found in Brazil and Guiana. 291. Birds of the order Natatores have a peculiar pro- vision for swimming. They are web-footed ; that is, the toes are connected together by a membrane or web, as seen in Fig. 147 (p. 180), so that the feet can be used as ;6ars or paddles. In the act of swimming, the toes are brought near together when the foot is carried forward, and they are spread out when it is carried backward. ' The body of the bird is boat - shaped, so as to move through the water easily. In those which are the most aquatic in their habits, the feet are placed far back, so that they may propel the body effectively; and this gives. Fig. 146.— Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Hooker, Worthington, 1806-1867. New York, Harper & Brothers
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1883
