their leifure time in linking and cuffing each other on the wing in
a kind of playful fkirmifh,; and, when they move from one place
to another, frequently turn on their backs with a loud croak, and
feed to be falling to the ground. When this odd gefture betides
them, they are fcratching themfelves with one foot, and thus
lofe the center of .gravity. Rooks fometimes dive and tumble in
a frolickfome manner; crows and daws fwagger in their walk.;
wood-peckers fly voiatu rndofo, opening and doling their wings at
every flroke., and fo are always riling or falling in curves. All
■ of this genus ufe their tails, which incline downward, as a fupport
while they run up trees. Parrots, like all other hooked-clawed
birds, walk aukwardly, and make ufe -of their bill as a third foot,
dimbing and defending with ridiculous caution. All \\\c gallina
parade and walk .gracefully, .and run nimbly; but fly with difficulty,,
with an impetuous whirring, and in a ftraight line.. Magpies
and jays flutter with powerlefs wings, and make no difpatch;
herons feem incumbered with too much fail for their light bodies;
but thefe vaft hollow wings are necefiary in carrying burdens, fuch
as large fifhes, and the like; pigeons, and particularly the fort
called fritters, have a way of clafhing their wings the one againfl:
the other over their backs with a loud fnap ; another variety called
tumblers turn themfelves over in the air. Some birds have movements
peculiar to the feafon of love: thus ring-doves, though ftrong
and rapid at other times, yet in the Ipring hang about on the wing
in a toying and playful manner; thus the cock-fnipe, while breeding,
forgetting his former flight, fans the air like the wind-hover;
and the green-finch in particular exhibits fuch languifhing and
faultering geltures as to appear like a wounded and dying bird;
the king-fijher darts along like an arrow; fern-owls, or goat-fuckers,
glance in .the dufk over the tops of trees like a meteor; Jlarlings
H t
as it were fwim along, while mijfel-thrufres■ ufe a wild and deful-
tory flight; Jwallows fweep over the furface of the ground and
water, and diftinguifh themfelves by rapid turns and quick evolutions
; Jwifts dafh round in circles; and the bank-martin moves with
frequent vacillations like' a butterfly. Moft of the fmall birds fly
by jerks, riling and falling as they advance. Moll fmall birds
hop; but wagtails and larks walk, moving their legs alternately.
Skylarks rife and fall perpendicularly as they ling; woodlarks hang,
poifed in the air ; and titlarks rife and fall in large curves, finging
in their defcent. The white-throat ufes odd jerks and gefticulations
over the tops of hedges and bullies. All the duck-kind waddle;
divers and auks walk as if fettered, and Hand eredt on their tails:
thefe are the compedes of Linnaus. Gee fie and cranes, and moll wildfowls,
move in- figured flights, often changing their polition. The
fecondary remiges of Pringce, wild-ducks, and forne others,-are very
long, and give their wings, when in motion, an hooked appearance.
Dabehtcks, moor-hens, and coots, fly eredl, with their legs
hanging down, and hardly make any difpatch; the reafon is
plain, thek wings are placed- too forward out of the true center of
gravity; as the legs of auks and divers axe fituated- too^ backward.