6. Identify the parts of the leg as in the frog. (See study of frog.) With what exoskeletal structures is each part covered? How many toes are there? Does the pigeon walk on its foot or on its toes? Where is the ankle joint? 7. The bird's legs are arranged to support the body. How is this brought about? Compare with the lizard and frog in this respect. 8. Explain how the legs are adapted (a) to preserve the balance of the body, and (b) for perching. Are they well or poorly adapted for locomotion? Explain. For what other purposes are the legs sometimes used? _Feeding and Drinking._ 9. What is the form and character of the jaws of the pigeon (called the beak)? Offer food, and watch the pigeons eat. How does a pigeon seize and swallow food? Does it chew the food? Locate the crop. If the pigeon chewed its food, would it have a crop? Why? How does a pigeon drink? How does the chicken drink? _Respiration._ 10. What parts move in breathing? 11. Compare roughly the body temperature (by touch) of man, the pigeon, and the frog. Which has the highest temperature? which the lowest? How can you account for the higher temperature of the bird? (Which of the three must be able to endure long-sustained effort? What is the effect on your own body of long-continued effort?) _Sense Organs._ 12. Identify the eyes, ears, and nostrils, and describe their location. What are the advantages in having the eardrum at the bottom of a canal? Is there any disadvantage? What is the probable function of the inner thin eyelid? How does it work? 13. Investigate the power of response of the special senses. Which seems to be the most alert? State the experiments which you used and your reasons for your answers to this question. Which senses are most serviceable in finding food? in protecting against enemies? _Protection._ 14. In what different ways are feathers protective to the bird? Study the arrangement of the feathers to find how protection is increased in this way. How do the feathers and parts of feathers which lie next the body differ from those which are on the outer surface? What parts of the body are unprotected by feathers? How are these protected, if at all? 15. Note the flexibility of the neck. Through what part of the arc of a circle can the pigeon turn its head? How is this especially important to birds? 16. What means of defense has the pigeon when attacked? _Summary._ 1. Make a list of the important adaptations of the pigeon, (a) to flight, (b) to feeding, (c) to perching, and (d) to protection. 2. Which is the most highly specialized, the fish, frog, snake, or bird? Give reasons for your answers. 3. In what various ways are feathers of use to the bird? _Suggested drawings._ a. Side view of the head. b. A foot. c. A wing. d. Side view of the pigeon. Supplementary Studies of the Pigeon