Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1887 — Birds Enjoy Exercise. [ARTICLE]

Birds Enjoy Exercise.

That birds enjoy the exercise of their powers there can be no manner of doubt. But, as a fact, bird life presents innumerable instances of the maintainance of the powers of flight in species to whose existence it is by no means essential. The skylark does not soar from mercenary motives; pigeons, domesticated for generations, fly about all day long, though they need to seek neither- food nor shelter. It is not necessary to watch birds on the wing very long to convince one’s self the act of flight is one of pure enjoyment; that it is cultivated and adorned with the refinements wh’ch characterize an “accomplishment” Such is the evolution of the tumbler pigeon, such the more refined and masterly hovering of some birds who possess the power of so balancing themselves on a slanting breeze as to remain motionless with respect to the earth, without apparently moving a wing or a feather, floating all the time still and calm. - ’