WINGS AND FEET 
study of the familiar pigeon of our streets 
shows that in the case of the dove this view is 
an erroneous one. On rising from the ground 
the pigeon draws up its feet in front, it is true, 
but, as it gathers headway, the feet are drawn 
back and extended under the tail. In this 
position it soars or executes any flight more 
than a few yards. When it flies but a short 
distance it does not have time, or it does not 
take the trouble, to draw up its feet behind, but 
carries them in front to be ready to drop them 
when it alights. In quick turns I have seen 
them drop their feet a short distance from their 
tail, and once I saw one drop its legs so that 
they hung straight down for a few seconds, 
and were then extended behind again. In 
alighting the feet are thrown forward, generally 
at the last moment. 
In the case of the eagle and other birds of 
prey the fact that the feet are carried behind 
under the tail has been observed over and over 
again, yet when this fact was announced in the 
pages of the /bts in 1894 and 1895 there was 
at first a hint of protest, but numerous good 
observers confirmed the statement. 
When the new United States twenty dollar 
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