BIRDS OF THE MOORLAND 319 



the boulder, its base hidden by the branching fronds 

 of the bracken, and backed by the miles of glowing 

 heather, the Red Grouse forms a picture not easily 

 to be forgotten. 



For the sportsman, the flight of game-birds and 

 wildfowl is a matter of constant note ; indeed, it is 

 part of his occupation to be able to distinguish one 

 bird from another at great distances. The naturalist 

 carries such observation still further. Few birds of 

 different genera fly exactly alike. Even in species 

 so nearly allied as the Partridge and the Grouse there 

 is a difference in the beating of the wings which 

 the trained eye will detect at once although the bird 

 may be far away. When the difTerence in the shape 

 of wing is more marked, discrimination is easier. 

 No one, for example, could mistake the flight of the 

 Green Plover for that of any of its congeners. The 

 rounded appearance of the wing as the Peewit wdieels 

 and tumbles over the pointer's head, is a matter of 

 common observation, but perhaps the most striking 

 peculiarity in the flight of this bird is seen when 

 a large flock is observed at a distance. A curious 

 palpitating motion seems to pervade the entire body 

 which has no relation to the line of flight. Com- 

 pare this with the steady forward movement of a 

 flock of Golden Plover or a homeward-bound party 

 of Rooks, or (so far as my knowledge goes) with 

 that of anv great congregation of birds which can 

 be seen in a mass in the sky. An individual 

 peculiaritv in the Green Plover's manner of flight 

 will be recognized at once. That birds dift'er 

 immensely in wdng-power goes without saying. 

 The Gr(juse and others of his tribe may attain great 



