172 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 89 



some birds. Dr. Jones ^ found that the Crackles formed in 

 rather definite and compact hosts, even remaining together 

 while feeding during the day. It is not this way with the 

 Robins. Their flight is more like a continuous stream, now 

 broad enough to fill a considerable segment of the horizon, 

 now narrowed to a single individual ; sometimes even ceasing 

 temporarily. 



As would be supposed the birds flew close to the ground 

 on dark cloudy days and much higher on clear sunlight 

 evenings. 



The birds seemed guided in flying by the conditions of 

 light and if the darkness came earlier the flight was corres- 

 pondingly early. The height of the flight lowered as dark- 

 ness came on so that at dusk the Robins were skimming along 

 close to the ground swerving from side to side in avoiding 

 the numerous obstacles. When flying high the birds main- 

 tained about the same level until directly over the roost then 

 darting down with set wings to the topmost branches where 

 they hesitated a minute or two before diving down into the 

 depths of the foliage. The first arrivals seemingly realizing 

 that they were early occasionally went off to the nearby alfalfa 

 and corn fields to feed, returning about dusk to roost. Then 

 for a few minutes a squabble usually took place as they se- 

 lected and fought over their roosting places. 



Soon only a few individuals were heard as they uttered 

 their plaintive calls ; but in a short time this also died away 

 and no sign remained to tell of the large number of birds so 

 near. 



Further notes were made on the habits and behavior, but 

 these details have already been fully described in Mr. Brews- 

 ter's paper, which the reader will find to be a most entertain- 

 ing account. 



Sioux City, lozva 



MVils. Bull., 0, 1897, pp. 39-56. 



