The Birds' Calendar 



to fly as you approacii, l)ut discreet enough to 

 keep well in advance. They are rinuiini:^, and 

 it is surprising with their short legs how fast 

 they can cover the ground. The robin some- 

 times hoi)s and sometimes runs, which is also 

 true of some of the sparrows, but I have never 

 seen any bird that could adopt all three modes 

 of progression. Sandpipers generally show a 

 curious mixture of walking and running, and 

 those birds that are most at home in the water, 

 are the most awkward on their feet. 



Even more interesting are the graceful vari- 

 eties of flight on the wing, as illustrated in the 

 long undulations of the goldfinch, the arrow- 

 like course of the spotted sandpiper, the rapid 

 flutter of wings in the perpendicular ascent of 

 the lark, the motionless quivering and flashing 

 departure of the humming-bird, the stately 

 sweep of wing in sea-birds, and the majestic 

 sailing of hawks and eagles. 



To the field ornithologist birds will always be 

 of interest chiefly for their powers of song, grace- 

 ful ways, and fine plumage ; but the world is 

 coming by degrees to know their immense util- 

 itarian significance : that in the economy of 



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