File:The British bird book (1921) (14775450313).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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ing to make thelower loop very small, and the upper loop very large. But asthe wing-beat increased in speed the lower loop graduallyfaded out. These movements of the wing, however, are descriptiverather of what takes place during very vigorous flight, aswhen the bird is getting up steam. When he is wellunder way there is no need for these long and very tiringstrokes, except in the case of birds hke the pheasant or theduck. A gull, when in full career, does not, apparently, raisethe wings very high, nor depresses them very low, nor doesit flex the wings at the wrist-joints. Stopping and turning movements are generally extremelydifficult to follow, because they are performed so quickly.They can be seen fairly easily in the case of some of the largerbirds. Ducks, as is well shown in one of our coloured Plates,draw the head backwards, tilt the body upward, thrust thefeet forward, and spread the tail, at the same time turningit forwards. Gulls and pigeons too may be watched withprofit. 174
Text Appearing After Image:
u3 Q5 In turning, the body is tilted sideways, so that the tip ofone wing points skywards, the other earthwards, as in thecase of the goshawk illustrated in this book. The pigeon,and some other birds seem further to spread out the longstiff quills borne by the thumb, which form what is known asthe bastard-wing. This turning movement is well shown,again, in the very reaUstic coloured picture of the woodcockturning in mid-air, and bearing too the burden of one of itsnestlings. If it is difficult to satisfy oneself as to the way in which abird alights, it is no less so to detect its movements in takingwing. Most of us must have seen sparrows making thiseffort from the road, thousands of times. But ask of anyone, How is it done ? The act takes place so quickly thatthe eye cannot follow its execution. And what is true ofthe sparrow is true of most birds. But there are some wherethis is not the case. Many water-birds, the cormorant, forexample, get under way but slowly, and with evident eff

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