no BIRDS AND MAN 



wings. At any rate, it is a fact that I have 

 never seen this method of descent used by the 

 birds in calm weather. It is totally different 

 to the tumbling down, as if wounded, of ravens 

 when two or more are seen toying with each 

 other in the air — a performance which is also 

 practised by some other species of the crow 

 family. The tumbling feat is indulged in only 

 when the birds are playing, and, as it would 

 appear, solely for the fun of the thing ; the feat 

 I am describing has a use, as it enables the bird 

 to come down from a great height in the air in 

 the shortest time and with the least expenditure 

 of force possible. With the vertical faU of a 

 bird like the gannet on its prey we are not con- 

 cerned here, but with the descent to earth of 

 a bird soaring at a considerable height. Now, 

 many birds when rushing rapidly down appear 

 to close their wings, but they are never wholly 

 closed ; in some cases they are carried as when 

 folded, but are slightly raised from the body ; 

 in other cases the wing is tightly pressed against 

 the side, but the primaries stand out obliquely, 

 giving the descending bird the figure of a barbed 

 arrow-head. This may be seen in daws, choughs, 



