BABBLER BROTHERHOODS 225 



thology if he would make a point of looking out for 

 babbler clubs, and endeavouring to count the members 

 of each, and keep a record of the results, with the 

 date of each census. I am aware that it is not easy to 

 count accurately a babbler club, for its members are 

 always on the move, and odd birds are apt to pop out 

 of unexpected places. But even rough figures, if they 

 extended to a number of flocks, would, being all liable 

 to the same error, prove fairly accurate as regards 

 averages. Such observations, if they were to extend 

 over a year, might lead to some interesting results. 

 They would almost certainly show a reduction of 

 numbers during the summer months, when nesting 

 operations were in progress, but would this be followed 

 by a considerable rise later in the year ? If so, it 

 would seem to indicate that some, at any rate, of the 

 young ones attached themselves permanently to the 

 flock in which they were born. 



A somewhat more elaborate experiment which might 

 yield interesting results would be to trap a whole 

 " school " of babblers ; they might be captured while 

 asleep. After a piece of coloured material had been 

 tied round the leg of each, every bird being decorated 

 by a different colour, the irate sisters would be restored 

 to liberty. Then it might be possible to follow the 

 fortunes of each separate bird, and learn whether a 

 given flock is always made up of the same individuals, 

 whether they practise exogamy or favour endogamy, 

 and a hundred and one other interesting facts relating 

 to the vie inthne of the brown sisters. I use the 

 word " might " advisedly. For alas ! bitter experience 



