POSITIONS ASSUMED BY BIRDS IN FLIGHT. 351 



of the air-currents — a swirling gust of wind being able 

 then to carry it this way and that, whereas were it in full 

 flight an equal gust might hardly affect its onward course. 

 I have seen Guillemots and Puffins when on the point of 

 alighting, and despite their rapidly- beating wings, bodily 

 blown over in the air and hurled backwards thirty feet 



FIGURE 1. — mTENT ON ALIGHTING. 



{Photographed by Bentley Beetham.) 



from where they intended to set foot. Frequently, too, 

 a bird, in wild weather or when agitated, Avill fail to effect 

 a landing, on a cliff for example, at the first attempt, 

 perhaps finding it has too much pace to risk a contact 

 with the rocks, or, having too little, a gust of wind will 



