New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-01
FEET AND LEGS OF BIRDS.
VARIETY OF USES TO WHICH THEY ARE
UT-MODIFICATIONS FOR DIFF
FERENT PURPOSES.


lIsy G. William Beebe Curator of ornithology York
Geological Society,"
Second only to beaks in the variety of uses
which they subserve the feet and legs OF
birds Compared to the rest Of the birds body,
these portions have undergone the least change
in appearance since the of toothed birds
and the reign of the ArchRopteryX. that ancient
connecting link, half reptile half bird.
No matter whether the tiny limbs OF a hum
mingbird or the gigantic shanks of an ostrich
are considered all are covered with scales. most
emphatic reminders of the reptilian ancestry OF
both these extreme forms of feathered life The
real foot of bird as the word is used in speak
ing Of other animals, extends to the backward
be! ding joint, heel. that part of the lower
leg is concealed by the feathers and skin, While
the upper leg, thigh, is sometimes wholly
within the body.
Although birds are descended from nVe-toed
ancestors. yet the fifth toe has entirely d!sap-
peared The disposition of the remaining four,
three two toes. the case may be, is always
in acCoI dance with the habits of the respective
bird When an animal acquires great speed IN
running or leapng, the tendancy is for one toe
to become greatly enlarged at the expense Oh
the others. in the of the horse ana
kangaroo The ostrich shows this very plainly.
and its two mighty toes. one much the larger.
ena Bile it with remarkable swiftness. The
other extreme is found in any bird which keeps
so much the wing that its feet have fallen
into disuse: thus the very small feet and toes
OF the chimney swift show of how little use
feet may lee in some birds.
In the cages and aviaries of the NewYork
Geological Park we may many interesting
ways in which birds make use of their feet. The
burrowing owls make their little round burrows
shovel.
kick d little circular hollow in their pile of sand.
then work downward. making trip after trip
from the entrance as deep as they have dug.
kicking the dirt behind them at each step.
Their cousins. the owls, which nest in hollow
trees, their sharper talons only to catch
their prey. and then to hold it firmly while they
tear it TO pieces with the beak.
Parrots use their feet for more different pur-
poses than any other kind Of bird-they the
monkeys OF the feathered world. They climb
wires branches one step otter another their
heak taking the place of a third foot in this
style of Iocomoton. They pick up food such
a. banana nut and hold it while eating,
turning ii from side side. as we revolve an
apple in our hand. With their feet they preen
their plumage and push each other aside when
too closely crowded and not the least remark
able is the habit which some parrots have. Of
hanging by the feet from the top of their cage
when asleep.
The peculiar formation of the foot-two toes
in front and two behnd-which Is found in par
rots and owls is adapted to many other uses.
The woodpeckers have it, and here it enables
them fairly defy gravity hitchng up per
pendicular tree trunks. while road runners. a
variety OF ground cuckoo, with this same ar
raneemeut of the toes run with wonderful
rapidity, often distancing a horse, for several
hundred yards.
Perching birds have a rule. three toes in
front and behind. They have a most ad-
mirablc arrangement, whereby a certain tendon
draws all the toes close together whenever the
heel joint is bent, when bird squats down
for the night it is in no danger of falling.
the very act of settling down the branch
clinches its toes around the support. only to be
loosencd by rising.
The quail, grouse and related birds make use
OF their toes in scratching among leaves and
soft dirt for insects This is 50 pronounced a
characteristic of these birds that il has formed
the basis Of several claSsiiicatiLns OF the
coup. few of the smaller perching birds