and shape ; on the ground as well as on the wing, and 

 in the bush as well as in the hand. For, though it 

 must not be said that every species of birds has a 

 manner peculiar to itself, yet there is somewhat in 

 most genera at least that at first sight discriminates 

 them, and enables a judicious observer to pronounce 

 upon them with some certainty. Put a bird in mo- 

 lion " and it is truly betrayed by its gait." 



" — — Et vera incessu patuit — — — — " 



Thus kites and buzzards sail round in circles with 

 wings expanded and motionless ; and it is from their 

 gliding manner that the former are still called in the 

 north of England and Scotland " gleds," 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 agi- 

 tated. 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 skirmish ; 

 and, when they move from one place to another, fre- 

 quently turn on their backs with a loud croak, and 

 seem to be falling to the ground. When this odd 

 gesture betides them, they are scratching themselves 



io6 



