112 Townsend, Position of Birds' Feet in Flight. [ April 



the legs behind has been affirmed by several observers, and the 

 fact is shown in numerous published photographs. 



Paludicol^e. Our common Sora and Virginia Rails in flying 

 short distances generally let their legs dangle straight down, but 

 if the birds get well under way the legs are drawn up behind. 

 The same is true of the American Coot or Fulica. 



In the case of Cranes, I have had no experience, but Meade- 

 Waldo (15) states that the legs are carried behind. 



Limicol^e. I have made numerous observations on many 

 species of shore-birds, and all carry their legs behind in flight. This 

 is most easily seen in the long-legged waders, but can be observed 

 even in those with short legs. 



Among the land birds both classes may be found but I shall 

 continue with those that belong in Class I, — those that carry the 

 feet behind. 



Gallinje. The Pheasants, Grouse, Bob-whites, etc., all carry 

 their feet behind when well under way, but, as it is probable 

 that they all draw them up in front in starting, or flying only a 

 few feet, their action has often been misunderstood. I have not 

 been able to see the feet in the rapid flight of our Ruffed Grouse 

 and Bob-white, but in the introduced Ring Pheasant, I once 

 watched a flock of young birds in flight whose only partly grown 

 tails did not conceal the long legs of the birds that extended back- 

 wards. Meade-Waldo (14) says that all game birds when launched 

 on the wing carry their legs behind. Holdsworth (13) says: "The 

 Pheasant and the Capercaille both rise with their feet in front, and 

 when well on the wing turn them backwards." Hartert (11) states 

 that all game birds carry the legs behind, and quotes Ogilvie Grant, 

 Walter Rothschild and J. G. Millais in support of this assertion. 

 Barrett-Hamilton (3) also confirms this. 



Columb/E. The familiar Pigeon of our streets, the descendant 

 of the Rock Dove of Europe, affords an excellent opportunity 

 for the study of the disposition of the feet during flight, yet I have 

 found that even excellent observers are apt to see incorrectly until 

 they have carefully studied the subject. The management of the 

 feet is as in the Gallinse. On rising from the ground, the Pigeon 

 draws up its feet in front, but, as it gathers headway, the feet are 

 drawn back and extended under the lower tail coverts. In this 



