OF SELBORNE, 51 



holl6w wings are necessary in carryingbur- 

 dens, such as large fishes, and the like ; 

 pigeons, and particularly the sort called 

 smiters, have a way of clashing their wings 

 the one against the other over their backs 

 with a loud snap ; another variety called 

 tumblers turn themselves over in the air. 

 Some birds have movements peculiar to 

 the season of love : thus ring-doves, though 

 strong and rapid at other times, yet in the 

 Spring hang about on the wing in a toying 

 and playful manner; thus the cock-snipe, 

 while breeding, forgetting his former flight, 

 fans the air like the wind-hover ; and the 

 green-Jinch in particular exhibits such lan- 

 guishing and faultering gestures as to ap- 

 pear like a wounded and dying bird ; the 

 king-Jisher darts along like an arrow; fern- 

 owls, or goat-suckers, glance in the dusk 

 over the tops of trees like a meteor : star- 

 lings, as it were, swim along, while missel- 

 thrushes use a wild and desultory flight ; 

 swallows sweep over the surface of the 

 ground and water, and distinguish them- 

 E 2 



