180 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



ture soon becomes spellbound at such a vision of 

 aviators who so suddenly can transform their ma- 

 chines into diving submarines! 



Not the least interesting among water-aviators 

 are Franklin's rosy gulls. These birds have a black 

 hood over the head and the upper part of the neck, 

 trimmed in pearl-grey, and the under portions of 

 their bodies are white with a rose tint. They are 

 found only in the West, where they roam over the 

 prairies of North Dakota to the Arctic Ocean dur- 

 ing the breeding season. The natives refer to them 

 as "prairie pigeons," and they make a beautiful 

 sight following the farmer in flocks as he ploughs 

 in the fields. 



How such delicate machines as the wings and 

 bodies of these aviators are able to make such pro- 

 digious flights as they do is understood only after 

 an investigation of their marvellous mechanism. 

 The chief muscles are those which control the wings 

 and legs. Every variety of bird has a body adapted 

 in the most efiicient manner to serve the purpose of 

 its life. Aviators, of course, have their bodies es- 

 pecially suited to their profession. And it is true 

 that "the bird is a masterpiece, a marvel of crea- 

 tion." 



The home of a true aviator is the air. In it he 

 lives ; that which he controls, he is still governed by. 



