FLIGHT IN SONG 



on the wing, and descend with a sweeping flight on 



wide-extended wings. It is possible that songs are 



uttered more easily when the wings are moved 



slowly ; but however this may be, there is no doubt 



that many male birds sing while on the wing. Chats, 



warblers, finches, buntings, and pipits have been 



observed to fly when singing. Some birds, such as 



the common bunting and wood-warbler, habitually 



shiver the wings when singing rapid notes ; and 



this suggests that the shiver referred to is caused 



by the movements of the lungs ; as already stated, 



these, in many phrases, seem to be similar to those 



which occur during human laughter. Mr. Hudson 



describes the extraordinary song - flight of the 



crested screamer, a bird of about the size of our 



heron. He says : " The chakars, like the skylark, 



love to soar upwards when singing, and at such 



times, when they have risen till their dark bodies 



appear like floating specks on the blue sky, or until 



they disappear from sight altogether, the notes 



become wonderfully etherealised by distance to a 



soft silvery sound, and it is then very delightful to 



listen to them. The chakar, ... so ponderous a 



fowl, leaves its grass plot and soars purely for 



recreation, taking so much pleasure in its aerial 



exercises that in bright warm weather in winter and 



6 



