196 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



a downward direction it is necessary for them to 

 commence their ' flight ' at a much higher eleva- 

 tion than that of the desired landing-place. 



A few of the fish also have the power to leave 

 the water and fly for brief periods by the agency 

 of their enormously developed breast fins. 



It remains with the birds, however, to claim the 

 dominion of the air ; although it must be mentioned 

 that certain species pass their existence entirely 

 upon terra firma. Some birds exhibit much greater 

 skiU on the wing than others. The herons, for 

 instance, flap their wings, when flying, in a heavy 

 and laboured manner, but the humming-birds 

 and the kestrel are adepts in the art of hovering 

 or hanging in the air in one spot. The kites and 

 the buzzards are peculiar in the fact that they 

 frequently sail through the air in circles with their 

 wings stretched out and held motionless. The 

 wagtails and the woodpeckers fly in a series of 

 rising and falling curves, and the pigeons will often 

 knock the tips of their wings together above their 

 backs when thus engaged, thereby giving rise to 

 a loud smacking noise. The dabchicks, the moor- 

 hens, and the coots fly with their legs dangling 

 beneath them, the flamingoes and the swans fly 

 with their long necks held straight out in front of 

 them, and the pelicans do just the opposite and 

 rest their heads upon their backs. Then, again, 

 the skylark ascends straight up into the air, and, 

 when descending, will often drop like a stone for 

 some distance and then sail gently to earth ; while 

 the tumbler-pigeon, as suggested by its name, 



