BIRD* CLIMB1XG THE AIR. 211 



the hawk has nothing tangible into which to stick 

 his claws and to rest his tail against. Those winding 

 circles must surely cease ; his own weight alone must 

 stop him, and those wide wings outstretched must 

 check his course. Instead of which the hawk rises 

 as easily as at first, and without the slightest effort 

 no beat of wing or flutter, without even a slip or 

 jerk, easily round and round. His companion does the 

 same; often, perhaps alwaj^s, revolving the opposite 

 way, so as to face the first It is a fascinating motion 

 to watch. 



The graceful sweeping curl holds the eye ; it is a line 

 of beauty, and draws the glance up into the heights 

 of the air. The darker upper part of one is usually 

 visible at the same time as the lighter under part of 

 the other, and as the dark wheels again the sunlight 

 gleams on the breast and under wing. Sometimes 

 they take regular curves, ascending in an equal degree 

 with each ; each curve representing an equal height 

 gained perpendicularly. Sometimes they sweep round 

 in wide circles, scarcely ascending at all. Again, sud- 

 denly o,ne will shoot up almost perpendicularly, im- 

 mediately followed by the other. Then they will 

 resume the regular ascent. Up, like the woodpecker 

 round a tree, till now the level of the rainy scud 

 which hurries over in wet weather has long been 

 past ; up till to the eye it looks as if they must soon 

 attain to the flecks of white cloud in the sunny sky 

 to-day. They are in reality far from that elevation; 

 but their true height is none the less wonderful. 

 Resting on the sward, I have watched them go up 

 like this through a lovely morning atmosphere till 



