2i6 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



to fly one thousand three hundred and fifty miles in a 

 little over twenty-three hours. This it will be seen 

 is about the rate of flight of our best trained pigeons ; 

 and it may here be remarked that the flight of these 

 two (otherwise dissimilar) birds very much re- 

 sembles each other. In discussing the various 

 means of dispersal, Mr Darwin states that almost 

 every year land birds are blown across the whole 

 Atlantic Ocean, from North America to the western 

 shores of Ireland and England. But with the bald 

 statement he leaves the matter and does not mention 

 species. The beautiful swallow-tailed kite has 

 accomplished this feat, which is hardly to be wondered 

 at, seeing its vast powers of flight. Less likely birds 

 that have occurred in Britain are the belted king- 

 fisher and the American yellow-billed cuckoo. The 

 white-winged crossbill must be mentioned with less 

 certainty, for, although it is a North American bird, 

 it is also found in some northern European countries. 

 All birds of great and long-sustained powers of 

 flight have one well-marked characteristic they 

 have long wings with sharply-pointed ends. And 

 the general truth of this will be at once admitted 

 if the rule be applied to the various species mentioned 

 above. Another point is worthy of notice. The 

 apparent speed of flight to an unpractised eye is 

 most deceptive. A heron as it rises and flaps 

 languidly along the course of a brook appears not 



