. Birds in flight . a soldier marking time. The curlew seems to prefer the evening for his best from the ground with rapid wing-beats, he will check suddenly when near the summit of his ascent; sosuddenly as almost to throw himself backwards. Then,recovering, he wiU hang poised, kestrel-like, in mid-air, andpour forth a joyous thrilling, or jodelling, song. Rising andfalling, on quivering wings, or sweeping round in great circles,and hovering again, he will remain for sc«ne considerable timepouring forth this joyful ripple of song. The courtship flight of the lapwing is even, if
. Birds in flight . a soldier marking time. The curlew seems to prefer the evening for his best from the ground with rapid wing-beats, he will check suddenly when near the summit of his ascent; sosuddenly as almost to throw himself backwards. Then,recovering, he wiU hang poised, kestrel-like, in mid-air, andpour forth a joyous thrilling, or jodelling, song. Rising andfalling, on quivering wings, or sweeping round in great circles,and hovering again, he will remain for sc«ne considerable timepouring forth this joyful ripple of song. The courtship flight of the lapwing is even, if possible,more interesting. Rising from the ground with slow heavyflaps of his broad wings—^which, it is to be noted, present aremarkable difference from those of the female, in that theprimaries are much longer, so as to give this portion ofthe extended wing a conspicuously broader appearance—^asthough he had difficulty in getting under way, he speedilydissipates this impression by a sudden upward rush, an 58. Lapwings effortless turn, apparently; and then follows a downwardswoop, or fall, with half-closed wings. To this swoop theresucceeds a surprising change. In an instant the wing-beatis increased to an incredible speed, causing the body to turna half, and sometimes even a complete somersault. Butthe next instant he is up and away over the ground withmusical wing-beats, tilting and swajdng from side to sidewith wonderful buoyancy. Throughout, this delightful performance is accompaniedby a wild and joyous song, which seems to be attuned to thesomewhat bleak surroundings. It thrills one even to re-member it in later days : and it defies one to express it inhuman fashion. It has been as nearly rendered as anyversion I have ever seen—and I have seen many—^by It is not a whistle, nor is it Uke any sound that canbe faithfuUy rendered by the human voice, yet it seems tosay whey-willuchooee-willuch-willuch-cooee. It suffers abreak, remarks Mr. Farren, commenting
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1922
