Ill 



THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS 



To what widely different use birds put their power 

 of flight ! To the great mass of them it is simply a 

 means of locomotion, of getting from one point to 

 another. A small minority put their wing-power 

 to more ideal uses, as the lark when he claps his 

 wdngs at heaven's gate, and the ruffed grouse when 

 he drums; even the woodcock has some other use 

 for his wings than to get from one point to another. 

 Listen to his flight song in the April twilight up 

 against the sky. 



Our small hawks use their power of flight mainly 

 to catch their prey, as does the swallow skimming 

 the air all day on tireless wing, but some of the other 

 hawks, such as our red-tailed hawk, climb their 

 great spirals apparently with other motives than 

 those which relate to their daily fare. The crow 

 has little other use for his wings than to gad about 

 like a busy politician from one neighborhood to 

 another. In Florida I have seen large flocks of 

 the white ibis performing striking evolutions high 

 up against the sky, evidently expressive of the 

 gay and festive feeling begotten by the mating 

 instinct. 



The most beautiful flyer we ever see against our 



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