WINGS AND FEET 



study of the familiar pigeon of our streets 

 shows that in the case of the dove this view is 

 an erroneous one. On rising from the ground 

 the pigeon draws up its feet in front, it is true, 

 but, as it gathers headway, the feet are drawn 

 back and extended under the tail. In this 

 position it soars or executes any flight more 

 than a few yards. When it flies but a short 

 distance it does not have time, or it does not 

 take the trouble, to draw up its feet behind, but 

 carries them in front to be ready to drop them 

 when it alights. In quick turns I have seen 

 them drop their feet a short distance from their 

 tail, and once I saw one drop its legs so that 

 they hung straight down for a few seconds, 

 and were then extended behind again. In 

 alighting the feet are thrown forward, generally 

 at the last moment. 



In the case of the eagle and other birds of 

 prey the fact that the feet are carried behind 

 under the tail has been observed over and over 

 again, yet when this fact was announced in the 

 pages of the Ibis in 1894 and 1895 there was 

 at first a hint of protest, but numerous good 

 observers confirmed the statement. 



When the new United States twenty dollar 



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