<NOTE desc="Amended 14 Aug 2000">

<NOTE desc="Amended 16 Dec 1999">

<DATE desc="29 Apr 98">

<NOTE desc="many initial letters of non-proper nouns written as capital">

cover page [ next page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

BIRDS

page 1 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="1">

<reg>Birds</reg>

<gap desc="figure">

<gap desc="figure">

page 2 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<gap desc="figure">

page 3 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="2">

Masters of the AIR

Since time immemorial birds have fascinated man not only because <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> their brightly-coloured plumage and <reg>lovely</reg> song but above all because of their ability to fly.

Besides insects only the birds and Bats can achieve true flight.

Birds, however, have no rivals in the Air.

The bird skeleton is not only strong but also <reg>light</reg> because most of the bones are <reg>hollow</reg>. Some of the vertebrae are fused with shoulder and hip girdles thus strengthening the skeleton. The greatest adaptation for flight is the broad breastbone or sternum with a keel to which are attached the strong muscles which power the front limbs which have been modified into wings. Some birds have lost power of flight muscles have been reduced and the keel on the breastbone <reg>disappeared</reg>.

<gap desc="figure">

page 4 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="3">

Divers Are the only <reg desc="uncertain">flying</reg> <sic>Bird Hind Legs</sic>. This means they Are Excellent At Swimming But when <sic>there</sic> are <reg>on</reg> dry Land, <reg>they</reg> Drag Themselves <reg>Along</reg> on <reg>their</reg> Bellies Because <reg>They</reg> cannot Walk very well

<gap desc="figure">

When foraging for food they submerge for only 30-45 seconds. But when In danger they can dive up to 80 <reg>metres</reg> They are found in North <reg>America</reg> <reg>Iceland</reg> and <reg>Greenland</reg>

page 5 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="4">

Great crested grebe

This bird eats small fish, insects and insect larvae, and some other small animals. They are <reg>found</reg> <reg>throughout</reg> most of the world. <reg>They</reg> are quick sea birds. Some people believe the feathers retain sharp bones <NOTE desc="uncertain punctuation">.</note> of fish In The Stomach, <gap desc="figure"> until they <sic>softened</sic> and continue through the digestive tract. Young grebes are often striped

<gap desc="figure">

page 6 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="5">

Common Puffin

The puffin has A brightly coloured beak. And a black and white BODY. Puffins nest on grassy cliffs where they dig BURROWS. The female lays one single white egg. Both <reg>their</reg> mum and dad feed <reg>there</reg> young twice a day for 40 days. They feed it small fish. Each puffin can carry eight to ten fish in <reg>its</reg> beak At A time, Holding them crosswise with its head on one side and tail on the other <reg>after</reg> the six weeks they <reg>abandon</reg> the SMALL puffin To <NOTE desc="space left for missing word?"> </note> for <sic>themself</sic>

<gap desc="figure">

page 7 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="6">

Wandering albatross

Albatrosses Are past <reg>masters</reg> of gliding.

The wandering <reg>albatross</reg> has the greatest wingspan of all birds It can <sic>wingspan</sic> three metres from wingtip To wingtip. They nest in colonies, on generally islands The parents take Turns incubating the white egg for 77 to 82 days they also feed the young for 6 <reg>months</reg> after they are Born. It <sic>take</sic> 7 years Before it can breed

<gap desc="figure">

page 8 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ SJ5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="7">

Brown pelican

Pelicans are recognized by <sic>they</sic> pouch on the lower <reg>beak</reg> It can hold up to 2-3 <sic>galls</sic> <reg>which</reg> is triple the size of the stomach, <sic>There</sic> nest in colonies and remain in flocks even outside the breeding season. When resting <NOTE desc="uncertain punctuation">.</note> they all turn <sic>they</sic> head the same way. When flying in a straight line <sic>they</sic> movements are the same. except for the brown ones because they look for fish and Dive head first from the air into the water all the other five <reg>makes</reg> of Pelicans Fish jointly <reg>they</reg> form a Long line beating the water with their wings forcing the <note desc="word/s missing?"></note> they <sic>scooped</sic> up into <reg>their</reg> pouches.

<gap desc="figure">

</text>