74 PIGEONS' FLIGHT 



muscular. The result of this is that when 

 the bird flies with energy, the body is 

 " hoisted " at each downward beat of the 

 wings, instead of maintaining a level plane 

 as in the case of most birds. This uneven 

 motion ceases when the gull " glides." In 

 this instance we can detect nothing be- 

 yond a simple up-and-down flapping of the 

 wings. 



Pigeons illustrate another style of flight. 

 Now tame pigeons afford every facility for 

 observation, and should be watched when 

 alighting and on rising from the ground at 

 feeding times. For the most part, beyond 

 admiring the graceful flight of these creatures, 

 people pay no particular attention to the ac- 

 tual system of their flight ; as birds they fly, 

 naturally, of course, and there it ends. But 

 I think it might be instructive if those in- 

 terested were to write, for publication in some 

 paper, their views on this matter of flight, 

 which at the present time is of exceptional 

 interest. Personally, I herein state my own 

 opinions which, though not necessarily the 

 true interpretation, may nevertheless be found 

 suggestive. 



A migrant known as the " summer-snipe " 

 (Tringoides hypoleucos), arriving in April, and 

 which frequents streams and the margins of 



