1 62 
NATURAL- HISTORY 
the water; but when they rise, fly swiftly. Grebes, and 
also divers, fly with their hind parts hanging down- 
wards, by reason of the forward situation of their wings. 
W ebb-footed fowls are various in their flight, several 
have a failing, or flagging wing, sueh as gulls. Pen- 
guins, and a species of auk, are denied the power of 
flight. Wild geese, when they fly in flocks, observe a 
particular order in flight, forming themselves in a trian- 
gular form, similar to the letter V, with the inverted 
point in front. In general, so uniform is the flight of 
birds of the same species, and so constantly various that 
of the different species, that to a nice observer the spe- 
cies will be very frequently identified by the particular 
mode of flying. 
The same uniformity in birds of the same species, and 
variations in those of different species, is also observed 
in the work of nidification. Most birds are monoga- 
mous, or couple, in pairs. The male, as well as the 
female, of most birds, also, joins in the act of incubation, 
and always in that of nutrition. 
Of the gallinaceous tribe, the greatest part are polyga- 
mous, at least in a tame state. The pheasants, many of the 
grous, partridges, and bustards, are monogamous ; of the 
grous, the cock of the wood, and the black game, assem- 
ble the females during the breeding season by their cries. 
The males of polygamous birds neglect their young, 
and in some instances, would destroy them if they met 
with them. The economy of the strutheous order (os- 
trich) has long been considered as doubtful in this re*- 
spect. Bat it is now pretty satisfactorily ascertained, 
that the charge of neglect is ill founded; and that they 
manifest, even a great affection for their young; and con- 
tinue' to feed and guard them till they can provide for 
themselves. It is considered as probable, that the birds, 
which compose this order, are polygamous, like the com- 
mon poultry, for they lay many eggs: the dodo, however, 
is said to lay but one. 
All waders, or cloven-footed fowls are monogamous, 
and all with pinnated feet, are also monogamous: except 
the ruifs. The webb-footed fowls, observe the same' 
