File:Aunt May's bird talks (1900) (14565867247).jpg

Identifier: auntmaysbirdtalk00poyn (find matches)
Title: Aunt May's bird talks
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Poyntz, F. M., Mrs. (from old catalog)
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Boston, New York (etc.) Educational publishing company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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hers ? When you grow older you must study 16 AUNT MAYS BIRD TALKS. about the construction of the small bones inthe neck of the bird, and then you will under-stand this better, but for the present I will tellyou that they have many little joints in theirnecks, made of many small bones joined to-gether and easily turned in all directions.Birds swallow their food whole, so that theyhave no need of teeth, nor heavy jaws withwhich to chew their food, and thus their headsare small; their legs are long and slender,and the chief weight of the body lies in thebreast bone and the bones to which the wingsare attached. You see, a bird is a creature of air and somust be light, but at the same time strong;its chief strength lies in the muscles thatmove the wings. Its bones, instead of beingfilled with solid substance, are hollow, as arealso the quills upon which the feathers grow. AUNT MAYS BIRD TALKS. 17 Thus, not only its lungs, but its whole body,is filled with air, and the bird is really a kind
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of balloon, kept aloft by the simple exertionof fanning with its wings. The tail of a 18 AUNT MAYS BIRD TALKS. bird has been compared to the rudder of aship, which you know is useful in guiding avessel through the water; just so our little airship, the bird, is assisted by its tail. I know you have often wondered how yourlittle bird could stand for hours on his perchand yet not seem tired; it would tire youdreadfully, but in this instance, again, the birdhas a great advantage over us. In fact, hedoes not have to exert himself in the least tostand there, for the weight of his body in thisposition makes the claws close of their ownaccord; they do not try to close, they simplycannot help it. It is just as if there were astring through the legs, and when the thighsbend up towards the body, this pulls thestring—or ligament, as it is called — andtightens the grasp of the claws on the perch;when the bird stands up the tension is loos-

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