1 62 Our Bird Frirxds. 



Even such soaring birds as tlic Albatross, Vul- 

 tures, and Poli(3ans produce a loud, musical " sing " 

 with the tips of their wings, and their presence is 

 often detected, it is said, by the noise. W'bat must 

 be a ])articularly annoying thing to a bird that 

 flies much is to jjet one of its fli'-bl leathers 

 cut in two by an accideut in such a way that 

 every wing-lieat ])r()duces a loud vr////" ir\\fi\ unff'. 

 A liook with sucb a feather lives in my neigbboiu-- 

 hood, and yet his coiii|)anions do not object to fly 

 with bill! because of tbe noise. 



The speed and ciidin-ance ot some species are 

 subjects of marvel. It is assertecl that both the 

 C'onnnon Swift and ilic \'irginian lMo\'er can iraNcl 

 at the astonishing rate of well over two hini(hed 

 miles an hour, and the t'ornici- biid is (»n its initnhig 

 wings si.xteen hours a d.iy. W'c talk about our 

 "ocean greyhounds," and oui' • biying Scotsman '" 

 and "Flying l)ulchnian"" expresses; Itut witli .m 

 unlimited consuni])tion of coal and water tbeii- 

 performances are pahry in the extreme when we 

 compare them with those ot a bird which could 

 easil\- t]\- iVoni bou<lon to New ^ orl; during the 

 light of a single day on a mere thindilelul or two 

 of gnats, or of one that can take its breaklast in 

 ('anada and its supper in l')ia/il. 



Sustained powers of ilight are chietly userul to 

 tlie majority of birds during their migratory journeys. 

 On these occasions they perform some astonishing 

 feats, principally during the night-time, when I 



