XX INTRODUCTION. 



the young continue to follow their parents for a period 

 varying according to the family or tribe. In some cases, 

 as in birds of prey, they are driven off early, as soon as 

 fully able to provide for themselves. In others they re- 

 main till the pairing season approaches, when they are 

 usually said to live in small flocks or families. Certain 

 Ducks breed on cliffs and trees, often at a considerable 

 distance from water, and they must carry their young to 

 water, but this has not been observed. 



Some Birds live a solitary life from the time of leaving 

 their parents till the pairing season approaches. Others keep 

 in pairs, in more or less close approximation ; whilst many 

 keep together, the young brood with the parents throughout 

 the winter, and some in larger flocks, of two or more 

 broods together. Some, as the Timalince^ are even more 

 or less social during the breeding season. Many birds, 

 more especially the grain and fruit eaters among Insessores, 

 and various game birds, waders and water-birds, associate 

 during the winter in vast flocks. Among these are various 

 Crows, Starlings, Finches, Larks, and Parrots, of the Inses- 

 sorial order, and a very few Thrushes ; whilst among other 

 orders. Pigeons, Rock pigeons (Pteroclidee), and various 

 water-fowl, such as Cranes, Ducks, Flamingoes, and Peli- 

 cans, are conspicuous. Several, that do not feed in large 

 flocks, yet congregate together towards evening, and roost 

 together, such as Mynas, some Herons, Crows, and other 

 birds ; and, in the morning, they separate into small parties, 

 and go off to their feeding grounds. 



The food of birds is as varied as their structure. Birds of 

 prey live on animal food, of various classes, killed by them- 

 selves, or on the carcases of animals. The greater number 

 ofthe Dentirostres, most of the Fissirostres, and some of 

 the Scansores and Ten uirostres, live on insect food, whilst the 



