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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



illustrations, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and also the exceptionally fine photo- 

 graphs, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, taken by the Rev. H. K. Job, state ornithologist 

 of Connecticut, who kindly provided them for illustrating the present 

 discussion. 



It is probable that the echelon formation has come about partially 

 by the fact that birds naturally follow one another by imitation. For 

 example, suppose a flock of geese arises from a surface of water in one of 



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Danger Zone 

 The Camera 



Fig. 8. Flock of White-winged Scoters in Echelon Formation, migrating 

 off Manomet, Mass. Photographed by the Rev. II. K. Job from a row-boat. The 

 heads of all the birds can be seen from the boat. At the moment the camera ap- 

 pears as the danger point to the birds. Every eye on the boat side has an unob- 

 structed view. 



their daily flights to their feeding ground; at first the individuals will 

 be grouped together indiscriminately, many following those that are 

 leading. Then, for example, the second bird in line will shift to the 

 right or left to be able to see ahead as well as to the side, and so on down 

 the line. While -the mode of flight is now a well-formed habit, yet the 

 process of producing the formation goes on to some extent each time a 

 flock (of geese, etc.) begins a flight. The echelon formation is thus the 

 one that will permit the greatest number of birds to see towards the 

 chief danger zones, the front and the sides. Perhaps this explanation 



