Position of Wings in Flying. 251 



feathers gone, so that you can see dayhght through 

 it ; sometimes the feathers are missing from the 

 centre, leaving a great gap, so that it looks as if the 

 bird had a large wing on this side and on the other 

 two narrow ones. There is a rough resemblance be- 

 tween these and the torn sails of some of the old 

 windmills which have become dark in color from long 

 exposure to the weather, and have been rent hy the 

 storms of years. Rooks can fl}' with gaps of aston- 

 ishing size in their wings, and do not seem much 

 incommoded by the loss — caused, doubtless, b}' a 

 charge of shot in the rook-shooting, or by the small 

 sharp splinters of flint with which the bird-keepers 

 sometimes load their guns, not being allowed to use 

 shot. 



Near their nesting-trees their black feathers may 

 be picked up by dozens in the grass ; the}' beat them 

 out occasionally against the small boughs, and some- 

 times in fighting. If seen from behind, the wings 

 of the rook, as he spreads them and glides, slowly 

 descending, preparator}' to alighting, slightly turn 

 up at the edges like the rim of a hat, but much less 

 curved. From a distance as he flies he appears to 

 preserve a level course, neither rising nor falling ; 

 but if observed nearer it will be seen that with every 

 stroke of the wings the body is lifted some inches, 

 and sinks as much immediately afterwards. 



As the black multitude floats past overhead with 

 deliberate, easj^ flight, their trumpeters and bugle- 

 men, the jackdaws — two or three to every compan^^ 

 — utter their curious chuckle ; for the jackdaw is 

 a bird which could not keep silence to save his life, 

 but must talk after his fashion, while his grave, 



