Page:St. Nicholas, vol. 40.1 (1912-1913).djvu/532

In the winter the foot of the grouse is much like a snow-shoe, the toes acquiring a comb-like fringe on the sides, while in the summer the toes are bare and slender.

Juncos (in foreground and in flight at the right) and tree-sparrows that make many footprints in the snow.

The Significance of birds’ feet

When our common winter birds are writing their parts in his classification of birds, and in his autographs on the light coverlet of snow, is a study of their habits. Most of us have a general good time for us not only to learn to distinguish knowledge of the foot of the ordinary domestic as many different bird, as, for example, the common chicken; but
“The woodpecker’s foot is nicely adapted for clinging.” to give a little careful consideration to the meanings of the different forms of birds’ feet.

We pay so much attention to the charm of its song, the grace of its flight, its interesting habits, and the beauty of its plumage, that seldom, if ever, do we even think of those important parts of the bird’s body, the feet and legs. Indeed, so far as most persons are concerned, wild birds might have no legs at all, so slight is the notice given to them. Occasionally, however, some conspicuous tracks in the snow, or the remarkable adaptation of the foot of the ruffed grouse, with its fringe which forms a sort of snow-shoe, compel our special attention. The professional ornithologist regards the feet and legs as important kinds of birds as is how many can tell, without examining a chicken, possible by the tracks how many toes there are, in what position they that they make, but are when walking, and how many of them project forward on the roosting perch, and how many toward the back? If you were to hold up a chicken and it should firmly grip your finger, could you now tell, though you may have many times held a chicken in this way, how many claws would be on one side of the finger, and how many on the other? We leave this for you to investigate, and now call your especial attention to some interesting characteristics that may lead to the study of others.

The woodpecker’s foot is nicely adapted for clinging. All four of the toes are well developed. Two point forward and two backward, thus giving a powerful grasp on the bark to which the bird clings when searching for insects. But in striking contrast to this is the foot of the fish-hawk, with strong, curved, sharply pointed nails, spreading widely in four directions, so that the bird may grasp its slippery prey at points as far apart as possible. In addition to the sharp, curved

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