the act of a bird in flying; or the manner, duration, &c. thereof.

Almost every kind of bird has its particular flight: the eagle's flight is the highest; the flight of the sparrow-hawk and vulture is noble, and fit for high enterprise and combat. The flight of tame birds is low, weak, and transient; the flight of the partridge and pheasant is but of short continuance; that of the dove is laboured; that of the sparrow undulatory, &c.

The augurs pretended to foretell future events from the flight of birds. See AUGURY.

In melting the lead-ore in the works at Pp Mendip, Mendip, there is a substance which flies away in the smoke, which they call the flight. They find it sweetish upon their lips, if their faces happen to be in the way of the smoke, which they avoid as much as possible. This, falling on the grass, kills cattle that feed thereon; and, being gathered, and carried home, kills rats and mice in their houses; that which falls on the land, they gather, and melt upon a flag-hearth into shot and sheet-lead.