286 ODD HOURS WITH NATURE 



of no motion which is so completely machine - 

 like as this one. It is only to be seen in a fairly 

 strong wind. At all times the ringed plover is 

 a fast runner, but its speed is greatly accelerated 

 when it runs down the wind, and the swift turn at 

 the end of the run is, of course, meant to bring 

 the lie of the feathers round to the wind before 

 they are ruffled. For this same reason the birds 

 always feed up the wind. 



Some of the most beautiful of the flight motions 

 of the gulls, particularly of the larger species, 

 are seen in wind. For long spells they can be 

 observed apparently enjoying their powers as aero- 

 planes with no other purpose than enjoyment. 

 Facing the wind, with the wings raised to a slight 

 inclination, they will make an effortless ascent 

 into the air. On these occasions there is no flight 

 motion in the wings, no motion of any sort save 

 a just perceptible quiver ,of the tips of the quill 

 feathers, which probably assists in the balancing. 

 Now and again a jerky downward move of the 

 whole body indicates that for an instant the balance 

 has been disturbed. After a spell of this wind- 

 sustained hovering, the gull. turns and sails swiftly 

 down the wind, then turns again and repeats the 

 upward gliding performance. Strong gusts give 

 every kind of variety to the planing, and in abrupt 

 surprise gusts the birds often shoot into the air 

 on an almost vertical line. But they never, like 

 the airman, lose control and come to grief with 

 a fatal downward plunge. 



It is not all aeroplaning with the gulls in stormy 

 weather. In all states of the weather they have 



