THE SPORTIVE BIRD 



Aerial Skaters 



Much of the agrial play of birds has, I think, 

 nothing to do with courtship or marriage. After a 

 course of those delightful pages in " The Descent of 

 Man " which treat of birds, the idea holds one that 

 every figure a bird cuts in the air, ornamental twist 

 or somersault, is to please and attract the hen. But 

 does the hen really care to watch this cutting of 

 capers ? I am sure she does not care at this time 

 of the year. Yet, in December and January, many 

 birds exult in elegant exercise. A radiant winter 

 morning seems to upraise the life of the bird as it 

 does the life of man. The black- headed gull has 

 been performing with rare grace over his sea and 

 river haunts. He, or she for no doubt both sexes 

 take part in the exercise reminds me of some ac- 

 complished skater. A gull will take two or three 

 long curves ; these are executed slowly ; a single 

 motion of the wings is enough for one curve ; then, 

 suddenly, the bird cuts a small, swift figure in the 

 air, and, a fraction of an instant later, resumes its 

 stately, slow curves. The wide curves and sweeps 

 answer to the outside edge strokes of the powerful 

 skater ; the swift, small figures to the loops or deft, 

 quick turns from the outside to the inside edge, and 

 so forth. 



Selborne and White 



Reading an appeal of the Vicar of Selborne for 

 funds to repair the church, we recall with joy that 



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