8o THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



start, and man is no match for this swift-footed 

 rodent, and it requires a very quick greyhound to 

 prove the winner. This animal is also a first- 

 class swimmer, and I have known it take to the 

 water to escape its pursuers on more than one 

 occasion, much to the latter's astonishment, as 

 might well be imagined. 



Whilst our four-footed beasts walk, run, jump, 

 and so on, when we come to our bird friends, we 

 find, of course, that their chief means of loco- 

 motion are provided by their wings, which enable 

 them to take either short or protracted journeys 

 in the air. It is remarkable to observe that the 

 Common Whitethroat, which just flits about the 

 hedgerow, or among the bushes in the garden, 

 taking short flights of a few feet only, should be 

 capable also of a long migration journey over 

 many a far-off land and sea. 



The same remark applies with still more force to 

 some of our small Summer Migrants, such as the 

 ChiflP Chaff and the Willow Warbler, whilst, when 

 we come to the smallest bird in Europe, the 

 Golden-Crested Wren, is it not a mystery how 

 such a minute feathered creature should be able 

 to battle against the roughest storms, and travel 

 both over land and sea successfully ? 



Birds of prey, such as Kestrels, Sparrow Hawks, 

 Eagles, Falcons, and others, have wonderful loco- 

 motive powers. They soar, hover, sweep, rush, 



