The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-30

How wonderful and beautiful says the
Boston Transcript. is the power OF hlshl'
and vet from the smallest insect that -
tossed about by the gentle summer
breeze TO the great golden eagle 'nd' ~
CAPABLE OF carrying a young lamp 10
his eyrie, all are masters OF the art.
\ large portion Of the living animal
world has wings and can use theh'
When watching swallows intimate
power upon the wing one feels Ike re-
phrasing the cry of Richard III. MY
kingdom for a pair OF wings.
Perhaps among our most common birds
the swallows are the most graceful aud
skillful Of flight Before rain along
our country roads the barn and white
bellied swallows are always 10 be seen
cutting the air I'm graceful curves. now
skimming the roads. now rising ap-
runtly 10 sail over the stone wall. and
float out across some neighboring mead
ow. They love the sea, also. and wing
their way over its surface with marvel
lous skin.
The chimney-swift SURPRISES IN the
power of endurance even the swallows.
Uncanny birds they are, far more like
bats. Their flight is not as graceful as
the swallows. but in way more e.
ratio. They rest only in the chimneys
OF HOLLOW Trees even NAAiA'NtA t- N't' N''tT"
for the construction of thcir nests while
on the wing Their food. also. is taken
when I'm nlght-in fact. the chimney
swifts life is spent in the heavens. Per
petual motion" must be- their motto. tor
but a few moments out Of each twenty
four hours are spent at rest IN the chin
uey's sooty depths
The opposite OF the swallows ana the
swifts flight, one might say. is that OF
the kingbiri. Jerky spasmodic. ungrace-
full as Il is in the extreme and yet pow
erful. for the kngbrd among crows GER
ta'nly deserves his name. As oil true iy-
rannidae be is an expert fiy-catcher' and
IS very dexetrous and often absurd in pur-
SUIT. iumbling over himself In his hufry
10 catch some dainty insect
The monOtonOus unduiations Of the
goldnnch, each rise and fan in the flight
accompanied by the notes which re-
senlble considerable" give the bird an
original II not a pleasing fight, and 10
me hc brings 10 mind the two extremes
of the peasOn-in summer unduiating
over the sunny meadows and In winter
over the swnO- nubOd shrilu rdlu rdlu
over the snow-bound fields.
When q robin crosses the sky so one
can really see his flight. he Is one OF
the few birds thar look as II they. were
really going somewhere. Direct even
and steady are the characteristics OF the
hight when really on the wing with
some distant point In view.
The erratic ann wonderful rapid flight
OF the humming-birl Is marvellous. and
the human eye can only vaguely follow
their winding course. such strength OF
wing for go tiny a body seems almost
Incredible Their migrations southwark
from New England extends 10 South
America.
The phoebe's flight is very like that OF
the kingbird's. and his tumbling when in
pursuit OF insects are almost Identical,
but his long flights do not denote such
power. nor. l think. such rapidity.
The wonderful fcats of the carrier
pigeons have become famous. and the
distance that they cover in a given time
is hardly TO be believed. Each down
beat OF their wings look as II they were
nying I'm a denser atmosphere than air,
so much power is shown
The bats crazy movements In the
evening twilight are absurd, full OF
plunges tuTnings twistings. rapid HAP
pings and tumhles. and yet they seem
no know where they are going, and
most certainly do.
The movements OF a hawk or eagle In
the upper air are graceful and magnih-
cent What must the sensation be OF
sailing about so easily IN the heavens;
Rising and falling. sailing and gliding
diving down with frigh,ful speed, and
yet the whole body is IN perfect COM
mand.
The osprey plunges into the sea and
rises with a fish. How keen the eye
hat directs such swoops,