384 
BIRD-LIFE. 
for themselves. This lesson is taught by all birds 
in a most interesting manner, and especially so by 
Baptores and aquatic birds. As soon as a brood of young 
Hobby Hawks have learnt to fly decently, the whole 
family may be seen dashing about in the air, apparently 
engaged in a game of romps : this is, however, not the 
case, for the old birds are occupied in instructing, and the 
young ones in learning. At first the whole company go 
through a course of aerial gymnastics, the parent birds 
leading, followed by their offspring. The latter are then 
taught how to turn, put on a spurt and strike, as well 
as other tricks of flight, until they are thoroughly 
well-grounded in the art. These preliminary measures 
having been gone through, the two old birds take their 
pupils between them, one parent rising above the young 
aspirants, and the other remaining beneath them. Sud¬ 
denly the upper Hawk lets fall a bird it has already 
captured; all the youngsters dash towards it: the first 
misses the quarry, the second likewise; the third, how¬ 
ever, is successful, and, seizing the prey, flies off delighted 
full cry to the mother, to receive from her the well-earned 
praise. If all the young birds miss the quarry it is caught 
by the old one circling below, and the game recommences 
de novo. In this way the teachers continue their labours, 
until such time as the pupils have thoroughly learnt 
their lesson. Among aquatic birds the Grebes administer 
instruction for some length of time. In the commence¬ 
ment the mother takes her children on her back, and 
swims about with them; she then gives them the first 
lesson in swimming alone, by simply diving. At first, 
food is distributed amongst the little band from the 
beak of the old birds; very soon, however, they only lay 
it before them on the surface of the water; and, lastly, 
