The bird steers with the horns of its tail
Beating the tips of the tail to right itself, while the wings are used little or not at all
A faint pencil sketch of a bird with open wings sits near the top of the leaf, above a short note in mirror-writing. Leonardo remarks that the bird often beats the 'horns' (the outer tips) of its tail in order to right and steer itself. During this maneuver, he adds, the wings are worked only a little, or sometimes not at all.
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Steering by beating the tips of the tail
Many times the bird beats the horns of its tail to straighten and direct itself. In this action the wings are used sometimes little and sometimes not at all. The tail thus serves as the instrument of correction while the wings rest.