334 The Bird 
at a decreasing angle for fifty or sixty yards, then gradu- 
ally nears the earth, till, when it has got to a distance of 
two or three hundred yards, the violent action of the wing 
ceases, and the bird glides along close to the earth for 
some distance, and either drops down or renews its flight. 
I suppose many birds fly in much the same way; only 
Fic. 266.—South American Tinamou. 
this tinamou starts forward with such amazing energy 
that, until this is expended and the moment of gliding 
comes, the flight is just as ungovernable to the bird as 
the motion of a brakeless engine, rushing along at full 
speed, would be to the driver. The bird knows the danger 
to which this peculiar character of its flight exposes it 
