I 



MEANS OF LOCOMOTION 8i 



dash along, and carry out many other manoeuvres 

 of an interesting nature. 



Some birds walk (the Wagtail, the Starling, the 

 Rook, and the Crow); many hop; some waddle 

 (especially Ducks and Waders); some run (the 

 Wagtail does so beautifully when a specially fine 

 insect wants catching quickly), and the locomotive 

 powers of birds generally, zvhe7i upon the ground^ 

 are worth making a special study of. 



Geese, Swans, and other birds which visit us 

 during the Winter from the far North fly high; 

 they mostly travel about in companies and possess 

 jgreat stamina. What we may call ground birds, 

 such as Partridges, Pheasants, Landrails, and 

 others, do not, unless occasion demands it, often 

 take to flight. 



Woodcock and Snipe have a curious zig-zag 

 flight, and are beloved by sportsmen who are 

 fortunate enough to bag them, whilst in the nest- 

 ing season many kinds of birds go through re- 

 markable evolutions in the air for the purpose of 

 wooing and winning a female partner. 



Woodpeckers, Tree Creepers, Wrynecks, Tits, 

 Nuthatches, and other birds climb trees with 

 wonderful cleverness, and the Titmice, especially, 

 may well be designated feathered acrobats. 



Leaving the birds, we find that Snakes glide 

 through the undergrowth with great rapidity, and 

 the Adder resorts to a sort of springing, which 



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