24 THE BIKD-LIFE OF A YEAR. 



July. 



The full development of tlie Inrd year is attained 

 in June, and as early as the first week in July, when, 

 among some migratory birds, there are evidences 

 of preparation for the journey southward, the sea- 

 son begins to Avane. The young of certain species 

 which rear but one brood have now left the nest, 

 and, accom])anied by their parents, wander about the 

 country. In localities which Ave had thoroughly 

 explored in June, we may therefore find species not 

 met Avith before. In some cases, these families join 

 others of their kind, forming small flocks, the 

 nucleus of the great gatherings seen later. Ex- 

 amples are Grackles, Red-Avinged Blackbirds, and 

 Tree SAvalloAvs. The latter rapidly increase in num- 

 ber, and by July 1() Ave may see them, late each 

 afternoon, flying to their roosts in the marshes. 



During the first Aveek in the month Ave shall also 

 find that certain l)irds have concluded their season 

 of song. 



Bobolinks and Red-Avinged Blackbirds are rareh^ 

 heard after the tenth of the month ; their young are 

 reared, the cares of nesting- time have passed, and, 

 Avith other one-brooded birds, they begin to rencAV 

 their Avorn breeding plumages by molting. After the 

 fifteenth Ave miss the voices of the A^eery, Orchard 

 and Baltimore Orioles, Chat, BroAvn Thrasher, and 

 others. But in ])lace of the songs of these more 

 ])rominent members of the bird choir, Ave notice the 

 calls of certain young birds Avho, long after they 

 have left the nest, are still dependent on tlieir par- 

 ents; thus the squawkings of A^oung CroAvs and trem- 



