File:The British bird book (1921) (14568919669).jpg

Identifier: cu31924022566420 (find matches)
Title: The British bird book
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Wood, Theodore, 1862- Pycraft, W. P., (William Plane), b. 1868 Green, Roland, 1895-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London : A. & C. Black
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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beconfined to the Passerine birds—^the perching birds, suchas crows and finches and their kin. It has yet to be settledwhat obtains among what are known as the Picarianbirds, such as kingfishers, bee-eaters, woodpeckers, and soon. The legs and feet of these birds are so small, and theirflight is so rapid, that the matter is by no means an easy oneto settle. But all other birds carry the legs and toes bentbackwards, under the tail. In the gulls, this can easily beseen, and easier stiU in the case of the common heron, wherethey are, as it were, trailed out behind—owing to the shortnessof the tail and the great length of the leg. The puffin carriesthem splayed out on each side of his tail, and so also dohis kinsmen, the razor-bills and guillemots. The legs, as a rule, take no part in flight. True, they canbe seen thrust out just before alighting, but this is solely forthe purpose of effecting a safe landing. But where gullscan be watched at close quarters, as in harbours, round a 178
Text Appearing After Image:
Scaup 2. GOLDENEYE Mallard 4-13 J to y Pochard lO. ship, or in such favoured spots as are to be found about thebridges of London during the winter, careful watch will showthat the legs are frequently used when efforts are being madeto turn, or check the speed of flight. Some of the smaller petrels—^Uke the storm-petrel, or Mother Careys chickens, wiU patter over the water withtheir feet as they fly just over the surface of the waves. Whether the legs are carried drawn close up beneath thebreast, or thrust backwards under the tail, the purpose ofthis disposal is the same—^to prevent any interference withthe stream-lines of the body which would impede flight. On the matter of the speed of flight there seems tobe much misconception. Gatke, the German ornithologist,gravely asserted that the little Arctic blue-throat—one ofour rarer British birds—could leave its winter resort inAfrica in the dusk of evening, and arrive at Heligoland—where he spent so many years studying bird migr

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