FORM AND HABIT: THE WING. 19 
birds, important relation between form and _ habit. 
Many terrestrial species rely on their dull, protective 
covering to escape observation, taking wing only when 
danger is so near that it is necessary for them to get 
under way at once. Consequently, Quail, Partridges, 
and Grouse, much to the amateur sportsman’s discom- 
fiture, spring from the ground as though thrown from 
a catapult, and reach their highest speed within a few 
yards of the starting point, while the Albatross is obliged 
to face the wind and run some distance over the ground 
or water before slowly lifting itself into the air. There, 
however, it can remain for hours or even days without 
once alighting. 
The Frigate Bird, or Man-o’-War Bird, has a body 
searcely larger than that of a chicken, but its tail is one 
foot and a half in length, and its wings measure seven to 
Fie. 7.—Frigate Bird. (Expanse of wings, 7 to 8 feet.) 
eight feet in extent. Having this enormous spread of 
sail, its flight is more easy and graceful than that of any 
living bird. I have seen hundreds of these birds floating 
in the air, facing the wind, without apparent change of 
position or the movement of a pinion, for long intervals 
of time. 
From this extreme development of the wing as a 
flight-organ, let us turn to those birds who have not 
the power of flight. The Ostrich, Rhea, Emu, and 
Cassowary are familar representatives of this group. It 
is generally believed that these birds have lost the power 
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