140 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



How do the birds accomplish these jour- 

 neys ? Well, of course they go by the air line, 

 not by land or water ; on the wing, not on 

 foot or by car or steamer or balloon. As a 

 rule they go in flocks, each group doubtless 

 being guided by some bird w^hose acquaintance 

 with the route enables him to pilot them safe- 

 ly. Sometimes a bird becomes separated from 

 his fellows, and then he must travel alone, or 

 else remain for the season in the neighborhood 

 w^here he has been lost, spending the time as 

 best he can. In this way it happened a few 

 winters ago that I had a zebra bird at my 

 elbow every time I strolled out to my favorite 

 woodland. 



You have, perhaps, seen large assemblies 

 of birds in the autumn flitting about and 

 engaging in most vigorous chattering; and 

 they have remained in your neighborhood for 

 several days, and then suddenly disappeared. 

 The purpose of the gathering was doubtless to 

 arrange for the long journey southward, to see 

 that all the birds which were to join the com- 

 pany had done so, to elect their leaders, and 

 decide upon the best route to take. 



In the South, when spring arrives, similar 

 preparations are made for the journey to the 

 North, as I have proved by observation. One 



