34 BIRD WATCHING 



changing and varying factor. One may say, indeed, 

 that there can be no sexual sport or play into which 

 the social element does not also, and necessarily, 

 enter. This is, no doubt, true, strictly speaking, but 

 the latter may be so merged in the former that prac- 

 tically it does not exist. 



Some of the peewits' nuptial and non-aerial bizar- 

 reries are of this nature, but as they are peculiar, and 

 seem to stand in some relation to another great class 

 of avian activities, I shall reserve them for a future 

 chapter. 



