52 MOTIONS OF THE NECK.. 



injury to the bird, but with perfect ease, is proved by 

 the fact, that most birds repose either with the neck 

 doubled back upon the shoulders, and forward again 

 on itself, or with the head placed under the wing. 

 Many of the long-necked birds carry a fold of their 

 necks upon their shoulders while they are in ordinary 

 flight, though they stretch them out in case of alarm. 

 The rapidity of motion, both in long necks and in 

 those of moderate length, is exemplified in the strokes 

 of the heron and the bittern, and in those of the 

 woodpecker, which follow each other so fast, that the 

 eye cannot see them, or the ear count their sounds. 

 The rotatory motion of the joints of the neck is seen 

 in the wryneck, w^hich can turn the head quite round, 

 till the chin and point of the bill are in the same line 

 with the middle of the back. 



The head and neck of birds, taken together, may, 

 in the average of the class, be considered as the 

 working apparatus, in the finding of food, the con- 

 structing of nests, and, generally speaking, in all 

 mechanical operations. Their forms are of course as 

 varied as the habits and haunts of the owners, being, 

 in all cases, the best adapted to them ; and therefore 

 they do not admit of general description, though they 

 are good characters of tribes and species, as indicating 

 how and where the food is obtained. Independently 

 altogether of their uses, in enabling us to obtain a 

 rational knowledge of birds, they are valuable subjects 

 of contemplation, as perfect models of mechanical 

 arrangement, and most striking proofs of purpose, and 

 the perfect accomphshment of purpose, in creation, 

 which, labour as we may, will always present us much 

 beyond our power of imitating, and may well command 

 our admiration. And here we cannot help pausing 

 to remark (for though the remark would occur to the 



