PREFACE. 



The flight of birds cannot but be of interest to 

 men who sail the air on their biplanes or monoplanes, 

 for the bird is, as yet at any rate, peerless among 

 aviators, and in describing his methods I have kept 

 in view the methods and the difficulties of those 

 who are striving to rival him. It is possible, there- 

 fore, that this little book may find readers among 

 those who not only study flight but fly. But, since 

 I have tried as far as possible to avoid technical 

 terms and make it easily intelligible, I hope it may 

 appeal to the larger class who, whether scientific 

 ornithologists or not, take a delight in birds and 

 their doings. 



I have to thank many friends for their help ; Mr. 

 J. A. Tregelles for three drawings which can speak 

 for themselves (the frontispiece and figures 13 and 14) 

 and also for reading a typewritten copy of the 

 book : Mr. C. W. Adams for reading the first five 

 chapters : four Haileyburians past or present for 

 drawings and a photograph ; W. T. Hichens for 

 figures 18-23 ; G. G. Nanson for the diagrams ; 



