WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



as well as on the wing, and in the bush as well 

 as in the hand/' Almost every family of birds 

 has its peculiarities of manner. Thus, the kites 

 and buzzards glide round in circles with wings 

 expanded and motionless; marsh-hawks or har- 

 riers fly low over meadows and stubble-fields, 

 beating the ground regularly. Crows and jays 

 lumber along as though it were hard work; and 

 herons are still more clumsy, having their long 

 necks and longer legs to encumber them. The 

 woodpecker's progress is in a series of long un- 

 dulations, opening and closing the wings at every 

 stroke. Our thistle-loving goldfinch also flies 

 this way, but the most of the Fringillidae (finches, 

 sparrows, etc.) have a short, jerking flight, ac- 

 companied with many bobbings and flirtings. 

 Warblers and fly-catchers fly high up, smoothly 

 and swiftly. Swallows and night-hawks seem 

 to be mowing the air with cimeter wings, and 

 move with surprising energy. On the ground, 

 most small birds are hoppers, like the sparrows, 

 but a few, like the dove and water-thrush, truly 

 and gracefully walk, and the "shore-birds" are 

 emphatically runners. Among all sorts, queer 

 movements are assumed in the love season, not 

 noticeable at other times. 



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