Introduction 7 



soar and circle round in the sky, or hover, as in the case 

 of the Kestrel, their wings are for the most part in a 

 state of constant motion. Many of this family are 

 noted for the swiftness with which they dash upon their 

 prey, so different, for instance, from the soft noiseless 

 progress of an Owl. Storks and Cranes on migration fly 

 for huge distances at great elevations ; Swans, Geese, 

 and Ducks, heavy creatures though they are, move at 

 a pace that is readily admitted by the gunner who 

 misses them ; Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse can 

 travel at great rates, and the first-named rise with 

 amazing suddenness from the ground ; among the 

 Plovers the Lapwing is noted for its noisy "winnowing" 

 flight, partly due to the wide expanse of its wings ; 

 Woodpeckers follow an undulating course, Kingfishers 

 dart from place to place, Larks soar, and almost every 

 group of birds has different methods, of which these 

 are but a few striking examples. 



Again, the smallest species traverse incredible dis- 

 tances on migration. This is not perhaps so marvellous 

 in the case of the Swallow, which careers through the 

 air in untiring fashion at any time, and only alights at 

 intervals, nor in the case of the more powerful Swift, 

 which seems to be able to remain aloft indefinitely, and 

 is rarely seen to perch except at the nest or when 

 roosting ; but it is astonishing beyond measure in 

 birds of apparently limited flight, such as Thrushes, 

 Wagtails, Pipits, and dozens of others. Of these the 

 Golden-crested Wren is perhaps the most wonderful, for 

 though the weight to be supported is here inconsider- 

 able, the delicate structure appears to be little fitted to 

 cope with the stormy weather that is often prevalent 

 at the seasons of passage. 



