OF SEL BORNE. 
239 
as it were fwlm along, while miffel-thrnjioes ufe a wild and deful- 
tory flight ; /wallows fweep over the furface of the ground and 
water, and diftinguilh themfelves by rapid turns and quick evolu- 
tions ; fiuifts dafh round in circles ; and the bank-martin moves with 
frequent vacillations like a butterfly. Moft of the fmall birds fly 
by jerks, rifing and falling as they advance. Moft fmall birds 
hop ; but wagtails and larks walk, moving their legs alternately. 
Skylarks rife and fall perpendicularly as they fing; zvoodlarks hang 
poifed in the air ; and titlarks rife and fall in large curves, iinging 
in their defcent. The zvhite-throat ufes odd jerks and gefticulations 
over the tops of hedges and buflies. All the duck-kind waddle ; 
divers and auks walk as if fettered, and ftand eredt on their tails : 
thefe are the compedes of Linnaus. Geefe and cranes, and moft wild- 
fowls, move in figured flights, often changing their pofition. The 
fecondar}' remiges of Tring,^, zvild-dncks, and feme others, are very 
long, and give their wings, when in motion, an hooked appear- 
ance. Daklucks, nwar-hens, and cools, fly erecft, with their legs 
hanging down, and hardly make any difpatch ; the reafon is 
plain, their wings are placed too forward out of the true center of 
gravity; as the legs of auks and divers are fituated too backward. 
LETTER 
