time thrust forward beneath the body. In some birds this 

 forward movement is more marked than in others. And 

 this because such birds possess a somewhat more flexible 

 spine, there being a certain amount of " play " where the 

 vertebrse of the loins join the welded mass of vertebrae which 

 he between the bones of the hip-girdle. 



But the tail feathers are not indispensable. This much is 

 shown in the case of birds like the kingfisher, the water-hen, 

 and the land-rail, which contrive to fly well, and at a great 

 pace, though they have but the merest apology for a tail. 

 More than this, the grebes have no tail at all. But it is to 

 be noted that they are by no means adept at turning move- 

 ments ; owing to the lack of this appendage the body, when 

 in mid-air, has a curiously truncated appearance, as may be 

 seen in the illustration. Further, it is significant that in the 

 contemptible " sport " of pigeon-shooting from traps, the 

 birds are deprived of their tails to prevent them from making 

 turning movements. 



The carriage of the head and neck, and of the legs, during 

 flight presents some interesting, and some instructive con- 

 trasts. 



Ducks, geese, and swans, flamingoes, storks, and 

 cormorants always fly with the head and neck stretched out 

 to their fullest extent. Herons and pehcans, though also 

 long-necked birds, draw the head back till it rests almost 



41 



