ANIMAL LOCOMOTION 197 



is in the habit of indulging in the most remarkable 

 acrobatic performances when in mid -air, turning 

 and tumbling over as if it were wounded. 



The various kinds of birds differ considerably 

 the one from the other in their rate of progress 

 through the air. The Virginian plover is stated 

 to be able to cover a distance of over two hundred 

 miles in an hour ; and the swift, one hundred and 

 fifty to two hundred mUes an hour. The part- 

 ridge can fly at the rate of fifty miles an hour ; and 

 the blackbird and the finches at twenty-five or 

 thirty miles an hour. The merlin covers a distance 

 of seventy-five miles in a like time ; the hobby 

 and the peregrine falcon, one hundred and fifty tO' 

 two hundred miles ; the pheasant, forty-five ta 

 fifty miles ; the golden eagle and the swallow, one 

 hundred miles ; and the sparrow-hawk, fifty miles 

 an hour. 



Birds vary also in their manner of locomotion 

 when upon land. The majority of the smaller 

 kinds hop, but the skylarks, wagtails, and starhngs 

 walk and run with alternate motions of their legs. 

 The ducks and geese waddle, and the penguins stump 

 along as if they were engaged in a sack race. The 

 humble fowl bobs its head when it walks, but 

 stretches its neck out straight and holds it stiffly 

 when running ; while the crested screamer looks 

 just as if it were doing the German ' goose-step ' as 

 it progresses. 



Few creatures are more wonderful than the fish 

 in their maimer of locomotion when in the water, 

 most of them possessing an air bladder by means of 



