LXXXIV.] 
OF SELBORNE. 
229 
kestrel, or wind-hover, lias a peculiar mode of hanging in the 
air in one place, his wings all the while being briskly agitated. 
Hen-harriers fly low over heaths or fields of corn, and beat the 
ground regularly like a pointer or setting-dog. Owls move in 
a buoyant manner, as if lighter than the air; they seem to want 
ballast. There is a peculiarity belonging to ravens that must 
draw the attention even of the most incurious — they spend all 
their leisure time in striking and cuffing each other on the wing 
in a kind of playful skirmish ; and, when they move from one 
place to another, frequently turn on their backs with a loud 
croak, and seem to be falling to the ground. ^\^hen this odd 
gesture betides tliem^ they are scratching themselves with one 
foot, and thus lose the centre of gravity. Eooks sometimes 
dive and tumble in a frolicsome manner; crows and daws 
swagger in their walk ; woodpeckers fly volatii undoso, opening 
and closing their wings at every stroke, and so are always rising 
or falling in curves. All of this genus use their tails, which 
incline downwaid, as a support while they run up trees. 
Parrots, like all other hooked-clawed birds, walk awkwardly, and 
make use of their bill as a third foot, climbing and descending 
with ridiculous caution. All the gallince parade and walk grace- 
fully, and run nimbly ; but fly with difficulty, with an impetuous 
whirring, and in a straight line. Magpies and jays flutter with 
powerless wings, and make no despatch ; herons seem encum- 
bered with too much sail for their light bodies ; but these vast 
hollow wings are necessary in carrying burdens, such as large 
fishes, and the like ; pigeons, and particularly the sort called 
smiters, have a way of clashing their wings, the one against 
the other, over their backs with a loud snap ; another variety 
called tumblers, turn themselves over in the air. Some birds 
have movements peculiar to the season of love : thus ring- 
doves, though strong and rapid at other times, yet, in the 
si)ring, hang about on the wing in a toying and playful manner ; 
thus the cock-snipe, while breeding, forgetting his former flight, 
fans the air like the wind-hover ; and the greenfinch in par- 
ticular exhibits such languishing and faltering gestures, as to 
appear like a wounded and dying bird ; the kingfisher darts along 
like an arrow; fern-owls, or goat-suckers, glance in the dusk 
