Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/300

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This, the last Order of Birds, is very extensive, and widely distributed. As the waters, of which these birds may, generally, be considered as the inhabitants, possess in the different regions of the globe much more in common than the land, we might expect to find their tenants, to a considerable extent, manifesting a similar community. Nor is this expectation found to be groundless, for, not only are the genera represented by peculiar species in all countries and upon all coasts, but very many even of the species in this Order are found to be truly cosmopolite, many of the Ducks, the Terns, and the Petrels completely circling the globe.

With the trifling exception of the Grebes, which have their feet formed somewhat like that of the Coot, in the last family, the whole Order before us is well marked by having the toes united to each other by a membrane stretched between them, whereby the foot acquires the form of a powerful oar, and of which a familiar example will occur to every reader, in the common Duck or Goose. In addition to this, the feet are placed far back on the body, especially in those species most eminently aquatic, a structure which, while it renders the gait of these birds awkward and shuffling on land, gives to the backward stroke of