THE SOARING OF BIRDS 109 



and is so carried against the wind far beyond its 

 starting-point. The next gust carries it up again ; 

 and thus the sailing and circling against the wind 

 are repeated. This is the theory by which M. 

 Marey accounts for the soaring of birds. But they 

 also seem to have the power of modifying the action 

 of the wind, even if it is not intermittent, by shift- 

 ing the angle at which their wings are presented to 

 it, and thus have the power of ' sailing ' against a 

 steady breeze. Gulls do this frequently, and rooks 

 in a less degree ; but in all such cases there is the 

 series of ascents and descents, though greatly modi- 

 fied, which characterise the soaring of the condors 

 and kites. This masterful flight, made without 

 effort and at vast heights, seems to us the perfec- 

 tion of movement. Strange as is the power of the 

 beating wing, this soaring on the wind of the 

 condors and pelicans, kites and cranes, is stranger 

 and yet more wonderful. ' Oh for the wings of a 

 dove ! ' cried the Psalmist for he sought for rest 

 on earth c then would I wander afar off, and be 

 at rest in the wilderness/ But for the picture of 

 these mightier feats, we must look to the vision of 

 the prophet : ' The wind was in their wings, for 

 they had wings like the wings of a stork ; and they 

 carried the ephah up between earth and heaven ! ' 



