extremely long), and the avoset seems to be an instance of the latter. "The feet of this bird," Montagu observes, "seem calculated for swimming, but it has never been observed to take the water for that purpose. We remember one of this species being wounded in the wing, and floating with the tide for near a mile, when it was taken up alive, without ever attempting to swim; so that the palmated feet seem only intended to support it on the mud."

I

If you examine farther the feet of water-fowl, you will find much to interest you in considering them in relation to the habits of the different species, and, in all, you will perceive the wisdom which has directed their formation. would advise you to investigate, in this point of view, the long naked legs of the heron and other waders; the toes of the curlews, broadened by a membraneous edge, to enable them the better to walk on mud; the scolloped toes of the coot, and the whole adaptation of that bird for living in fens and lakes; the phalaropes, the grebes, the guillemots, the divers: in short, turn over the beautiful figures of Bewick, and examine the situation and form of the feet in the differ

ent species as you go along; compare these with the history and habits of the bird; and employ your mind in thinking earnestly on the divine wisdom which has so carefully fitted them for their various offices. In my next I shall pursue this subject a little farther, as it is exemplified in land-birds.

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LETTER XIV.

THE division of the feathered creation into land and water birds is very convenient, though by no means so correct as at first sight, or on a superficial observation, it might appear. Many of the birds mentioned in my last letter are in every respect so decidedly aquatic, that there can be no doubt on the subject; but, on the other hand, there is a considerable number of species which want what we might consider the characteristic marks of water-birds, and yet are almost entirely aquatic in their habits. The water-hen has already been mentioned, which, though not web-footed, can both dive and swim. The oyster-catcher, also, can do both, if neces sity require; and, according to the observation of the accurate Montagu, the curlew can swim, and the sandpiper both swim and dive. The water-ouzel, again, which inhabits the stones and banks of mountain-streams, though not web-footed, can pursue its prey under water;

also dives frequently in pursuit of the smaller fishes. The osprey, or sea-eagle, lives chiefly on fishes, which it takes by pouncing on them as they come near the surface of the sea or lake; but it does not seize them, like the kingfisher, with the beak, but with its foot, and for this purpose the latter is finely adapted. Like the other eagles, it has one back and three front

but there is this difference in the foot of the osprey-its outer toe is larger than the inner -whereas, in other eagles, the inner is larger than the outer. Now, you will not at once see what great advantage can result from this; but there is something farther: the outer toe, while it is larger, is also moveable, so that, at pleasure, the bird can turn it back, in which position the foot would seem to have two front and two back toes; and it must be obvious to you, that by this disposition it will be rendered much more fit for grasping its slippery prey, than it would be without such contrivance. Mr. Montagu gives the following account of the osprey's mode of fishing: "As we were crossing the bridge over the river Avon, at Aveton Gifford, on the 9th of April, 1811, we observed an osprey hawking for fish; at least its attention was arrested, and, like the kestrel in search of mice, it became stationary, as if examining

what had attracted its attention. After a

descended to within surface of the water,

pause of some time, it about fifty yards of the and there continued hovering for another short interval, and then precipitated itself into the water with such great celerity as to be nearly immersed. In three or four seconds the bird rose without any apparent difficulty, and carried off a trout of moderate size, and, instead of alighting to regale upon its prey, it soared to a prodigious height, and did not descend within our view."

The cuckoo has a similar power of turning the outer toe backwards or forwards, but I have met with no reason assigned for this peculiarity; - it may not be improbable, perhaps, that the cuckoo lays her egg on the ground, and then conveys it in her foot to the nest of its future foster-parent. There is a little bird called the nuthatch, found in woods in various parts of England, the foot of which is, comparatively, very large. The bird is about as big as a sparrow, yet, "when extended, the foot measures one inch and three quarters.' I know of no reason nor conjecture that has been assigned, to account for this great size; but I think that,