Certain Phases of Bird-Life. 
363 
1876.] 
from the nest ; and then they feed them as before, but not 
as frequently, which leads the young to voluntarily move 
from point to point. The important faCt must not be lost 
sight of, too, that the young birds, when once out of the 
nest, witness nearly every movement of their parents, and 
learn, undoubtedly, very much through imitation of their 
movements. 
For these reasons I believe the acquisition of full-flight 
power is gradually acquired : first there is a mere “ flapping” 
to prevent falling ; then short horizontal stages of aerial 
progression ; finally, a steady, intelligent use of the wings, 
enabling the birds to execute the highest type of flight within 
their capabilities, i.e., upward flight. 
In the case of birds of more complicated flight than those 
mentioned above, such as the falcons, where hovering is a 
necessary acquirement, the truth of the assertion that flight 
is gradually acquired becomes more evident from the faCt 
(which I have very frequently verified by observation) that 
the young birds for some time after leaving the nest are fed 
by their parents. They commence procuring food for them- 
selves by chasing sparrows ; checking their moderate flight 
when above a thicket, they rush upon the fleeing birds, more 
frequently without success than with. Their first attempts 
at hovering are miserable failures, and it is not until autumn 
that they are enabled, by the complete control of their 
wings, to stay themselves in mid-air, and, at the proper 
moment, dart with unerring aim upon some luckless mouse. 
I have used the term “ unerring,” because it is customary 
so to characterise this aCt of the falcons ; but having 
watched, with a powerful field-glass, the hovering and 
darting of hawks, I have been forced to consider the term 
far from correCt, and that not more than one-half, if as 
many, of the “ strikes,” on the part of the bird, are 
effectual. 
Following the young birds, of any species, from the nests, 
and noting their movements, we find that the one prominent 
aim of their lives, during their first summer, is the acquisi- 
tion of food. They have really nothing else to do, if we 
except escaping from the attacks of their enemies, and this 
is taught them direCtly by their parents. I judge that the 
great majority of birds that fall victims to birds of prey and 
carnivorous mammals are young. To return to the feeding- 
habits of birds : — These appear to be acquired, by every 
bird, through imitation of the movements of the parents 
when in search of food ; judgment as to localities, on the 
part of the young, and allied circumstances connected with 
