. Animal Life and the World of Nature; A magazine of Natural History. 324 Animal Life. Fig. 13. Eagle soaring Adjutant-Storks and Vultures, some of which last have decidedly long necks. In the case of the Heron the kink in the neck-vertebrae, which renders a curved position for the neck the easiest, may be the excuse, and perhaps the Bare-necked Storks and Vultures may draw in their necks for warmth, but it is not so easy to find the reason in the case of the Pelicans. The big bill of the last-named will not account for it, as the Hornbills fly with outstretched necks, and these have, if anyth
. Animal Life and the World of Nature; A magazine of Natural History. 324 Animal Life. Fig. 13. Eagle soaring Adjutant-Storks and Vultures, some of which last have decidedly long necks. In the case of the Heron the kink in the neck-vertebrae, which renders a curved position for the neck the easiest, may be the excuse, and perhaps the Bare-necked Storks and Vultures may draw in their necks for warmth, but it is not so easy to find the reason in the case of the Pelicans. The big bill of the last-named will not account for it, as the Hornbills fly with outstretched necks, and these have, if anything, more weight in front. There is no doubt, however, that the most active flyers are found among those which draw in their necks, though many groups which extend the neck, such as Cranes and ordinary Storks, fly strongly and are adepts at soaring. Soaring is simply the gliding movement continued for a long period, the bird moving in circles or spirals, either close to the ground or water, as in the case of the Albatross or Lammergeier, or high in the air as with Vultures, Eagles, or Storks, which will rise to enormous heights in this way. The Vultures and Storks have their wings extended to the utmost and perfectly flat, while those of the Kites flex slightly at the pinion- joint. The Eagle (Eig. 13)— " Soaring in supreme dominion Through the azure fields of air " looks noblest of all, as his wings are not only extended to their fullest stretch, but slightly inclined upwards, which gives a less stiff effect. Buzzards, unless near enough for their smaller size and distinctive markings to be seen, cannot be distinguished from Eagles in their flight, and as they are now fairly common in parts of Britain, it is be hoped our physicists will pay more attention to their movements and solve the mystery, for how soaring is done is still somewhat of a puzzle. All long-soaring birds are big, and none are fast flyers; some weight of body and a great span of wing seem requisit
Size: 1950px × 1282px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1902
