"We called them the lions and tigers of the air. They are also called seizers, and now you know the reason for this name.""Look at the canary, Norah," said Willie, who wanted to have a turn now, "he is asleep on his perch. Don"t you sometimes wonder how he can manage to sleep there without falling? It has puzzled me many a time.""Yes," said Norah, "it has puzzled me too. I should like to know all about it.""Well," said Will, "the canary has the same kind of foot as we find in the sparrow, thrush, lark, robin, and the hosts of little birds to be met with in our woods and fields.
"The foot has three long slender, jointed toes in front and a short one behind.
"None of these birds walk well on the ground. They go with little short hops; theydo not walk. Their long toes are made for grasping a twig, and not for walking on a flat surface. They livealmost entirely in the trees, where they are quite at home hopping from twig to twig.