164 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



these circumstances I have frequently seen quite a number 

 of the birds come to grief on the rocks within thirty j^ards 

 of starting. Most of tliese, though somewhat dazed by 

 the impact, flutter and claw their way on to the top of some 

 big boulder, and after a moment's pause again dive forth, 

 but not infrequently with no better result. The first 

 failure is, I believe, often caused by their paying too much 

 attention to and looking behind at whatever startled 

 them, instead of gauging their proper angle. 



FIGURE 1. — RAISING THE WINGS PREPARATORY TO GOING. 

 {Photographed by Bentley Beetham.) 



The raising and unfolding of the wings is worthy of 

 a httle consideration. The former usually takes place 

 not after, but previous to, the diving or springing forward, 

 while generally the whole " foot " is at rest upon the rock. 

 Of course, when suddenly alarmed birds sometimes cast 

 themselves from the cliff without first raising their 

 wings, and in consequence fall rapidly. 



