OP SELBORNfi. 49 



manner peculiar to itself, yet there is some- 

 what in most genera at least, that at first 

 sight discriminates them, and enables a ju- 

 dicious observer to pronounce upon them 

 with some certainty. Put a bird in motion 



Et vera incessu patuit 



Thus kites and buzzards sail round itt 

 circles with wings expanded and motion- 

 less ; and it is from their gliding manner 

 that the former are still called in the north 

 of England gleads, from the Saxon verb 

 glidan, to glide. The kestrel or wind'hover, 

 has a peculiar mode of hanging in the air 

 in one place, his wings all the while being 

 briskly agitated . Hen-harriers fly low over 

 heaths or fields of corn, and beat the 

 ground regularly like a pointer or setting- 

 dog. Owls move in a buoyant manner, as 

 if lighter than the air ; they seem to want 

 ballast. There is a peculiarity belonging 

 to ravens that must draw the attention even 

 of the most incurious — they spend all their 

 leisure time in striking and cuffing each 

 other on the wing in a kind of playful 



VOL. II. E 



