"And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head."—Matthew xiii.
1060. Why have birds that swim and dive short legs?
Because long legs would greatly impede their motions in the water, by becoming repeatedly entangled in the weeds, and by striking against the bottom. Waders, however, require long legs because they have to move about through the tall vegetation of marshy borders.
Fig. 69.—STILT-PLOVER AND DUCK.
1061. Why have the feet of the heron, cormorant, &c., deep rough notches upon their under surface?
Because, as those birds live by catching fish, they are enabled by the notches in their feet, to hold the slippery creatures upon which they feed.