or SELBORNE. 51 



hollow wings are necessary in carrying bur- 

 thens, such as large fishes, and the like ; 

 pigeonsy and particularly the sort called 

 smiters, have a way of clashing their wings 

 the one against the other over their backs 

 with a loud snap ; another variety called 

 tumblers turn themselves over in the air. 

 Some birds have movements peculiar to 

 the season of love : thus ring-doves, though 

 strong and rapid at other times, yet in the 

 Spring hang about on the wing in a toying 

 and playful manner ; thus the cock-snipe, 

 while breeding, forgetting his former flight, 

 fans the air like the wind-hover : and the 

 green-Jinch in particular exhibits such lan- 

 guishing and faultering gestures as to ap- 

 pear like a wounded and dying bird ; the 

 hing'Jisher darts along like an arrow ; fern- 

 owls, or goat-suckers^ glance in the dusk 

 over the tops of trees like a meteor ; star- 

 lings, as it were, swim along, while missel- 

 thrushes use a wild and desultory flight ; 

 swallows sweep over the surface of the 

 ground and water, and distinguish them* 

 e2 



