NATURE NEAR BRIGHTON 89 



a large circle, rose level with the hill. Eound again 

 he came, rising spirally — a spiral with a diameter 

 varying from a furlong to a quarter of a mile, some- 

 times wider — and was now high overhead. Turn 

 succeeded turn, up, up, and this without a single 

 movement of the wings, which were held extended 

 and rigid. The edge of the wing on the outer side was 

 inclined to the horizon — one wing elevated, the other 

 depressed — as the bird leaned inwards like a train 

 going round a curve. The plane of the wings glided 

 up the air as, with no apparent diminution of speed 

 from friction, the bird swiftly ascended. Fourteen 

 times the bird swept round, never so much as moving 

 his wings, till now the gaze could no longer distinguish 

 his manner of progress. The white body was still 

 perceptible, but the wings were indistinct. Up to that 

 height the gull had not assisted his ascent by flapping, 

 or striking the air in any way. The original impulse, 

 and some hitherto unexplained elasticity or property 

 of air, had sufficed to raise him, in apparent defiance 

 of the retardation of friction, and of the drag of gravi- 

 tation. This power of soaring is the most wonderful 

 of the various problems of flight being accomplished 

 without effort ; and yet, according to our preconceived 

 ideas, there must be force somewhere to cause motion. 

 There was a moderate air moving at the time, but it 

 must be remembered that if a wind assists one way it 

 retards the other.* Hawks can certainly soar in the 

 calmest weather. 



One day I saw a weasel cross a road in Hove, close 

 to a terrace of houses. 



* See the paper on " Birds Climbing the Air." 



