3. The powerful, sharp claw of the Eagle strikes deeply into the flesh of its prey and holds it fast. [Illustration] 4. The Sparrow Hawk strangles and crushes with its warty toes the birds on which it preys. 5. The foot of the Owl, as well as its bill, proves that it is a bird of prey. 6. The foot of the Swift is so constructed that it can cling to walls; it cannot walk or stand. 7. The toes of the Moor-or Water-hen are provided with skin-flaps, not altogether perfect for swimming, but excellent for wading and diving. 8. The Crested Grebe excels in diving, pushing sideways with its feet. 9. The foot of the Bustard has three toes, and hard soles, which enable it to run extremely well. 10. The four toes of the Cormorant are joined together by a web; it is a good diver, can swim under water, and can also roost on trees. 11. The Wild Duck has only three toes webbed together; its foot is, therefore, specially suited for propelling the bird on the surface of the water. 12. The toes of the Avocet are only partially joined together by webs; its legs are suitable only for wading, but can be used for swimming in case of need. The variety and suitability to their purpose of wings, bills, and legs, show us that the feathered inhabitants of a neighbourhood form a community. A society of men would not be perfect if there were only men of one calling. A variety of workers is needed in human society, with a variety of tools, with which to perform a variety of necessary work, just as various birds with a varied construction of body perform their work in the open field of Nature. * * * * * A few words as to the feathers of the bird. The perfectly developed feather consists of a quill which grows in the flesh, the stem becoming gradually thinner towards the top and having lesser feathers on either side, those on the one side of the [Illustration] quill being narrower than those on the other half. The feathers overlap each other exactly and densely especially those which protect the main part of the body. At the end of the quill of the top feathers is a down which takes the place of our under-clothing, and which in the case of waterfowl prevents the water from penetrating to the body of the bird. There is also a pure down which is composed of numerous stems; this is close and thick and protects the binding together of the general plumage. [Illustration]