Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, Vol. 3: Part II
Every bird of this kind, habituated to marshy places, may be known, if not by the length of its legs, at least by the scaly sur. Face of them. Those who have observed the legs of a snipe or a woodcock, will easily perceive my meaning; and how different the surface of the skin that covers them is from that of the pigeon or the partridge. Most birds of this kind also, are bare of feathers half way up the thigh; at least, in all of them, above the knee. - Their long habits of wading in the waters, and hav ing their legs continually in moisture, prevents the growth of feathers on those parts; so that there is a surprising difference between the legs of a crane, naked of feathers almost up to the body, and the falcon, booted almost to the very toes.
The bill is also very distinguishable in most of this class. It is, in general, longer than that of other birds, and in some finely ?uted on every side while at the point it is possessed of extreme sensibility, and furnished with nerves, for the better feeling their food at the bottom of marshes, where it cannot be seen.' Some birds of this class are thus fitted with every convenience; they have long legs, for wading; long necks for stooping; long bills, for searching; and nervous points, for feeling. Others are not to amply provided for; as some have long bills, but legs of no great length; and others have long necks, but very short legs. It is a rule which universally holds, that where the bird's legs are long, the neck is also long in proportion. It would indeed be an incurable defect in the bird's conformation, to be lifted upon stilts above its food, without being furnished with an in strument to reach it.
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