"... All large sociable birds make noticeable preparations when about to take wing, and some of these initiating movements have no apparent usefulness so far as rising from the ground or water is concerned. ... It is of great advantage to birds which migrate in flocks, such as geese, to take flight so far as possible simultaneously, and thus range themselves without delay into orderly squadrons. Moreover, the movements serve as a quiet hint of danger to neighbors when a bird sights a suspicious object. They have, in fact, a contagious effect. Large gaggles of geese in which one or other of the birds is constantly initiating flight in this way fly up much more often than small parties."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
(pbk edition of 1942 edition entitled Bird Display and Behaviour)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edward_Allworthy_Armstrong
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Edward Allworthy Armstrong
(8 October 1900 – 19 December 1978) was a British , Church of England clergyman, and author of several books. He is noteworthy for his study of bird behaviour and his extensive study of the (for which he travelled to the , , and Iceland). In 1966 he received the .
10 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Edward Allworthy Armstrong →
Related Quotes
"The s which often accompany fishing s are there for anything but philanthropic purposes. They float about among the d…"
"Some birds which feed on insects may bring food to the nest more than a thousand times in one day."
"There is nothing in Shakespeare's writings to suggest that he knew the . In his day the word "chough" was synonymous …"
"… bore twin children, Apollo and Artemis, who had a sanctuary in common at Troy (Il. v. 445-448). Apollo also had twi…"
"Those who would follow Christ must neither be unduly frightened by what is involved, nor rush into commitments which …"
"A rich store of Christian s appeared throughout the centuries before the time of Saint Francis, and he was by no mean…"
"... Alexander the Great was said to have been guided across the desert to the by two ravens from heaven which encoura…"
"The , , and some s retain territory in winter and pair after occupying territory. Other species which abandon their b…"
"On the whole, the first-rate have the most elaborate equipment. The birds with the most s and greatest ability to mov…"
"where George II died and where Queen Victoria was born is still used as apartments for the sovereign's relatives: Pri…"