HEARTS IN WINTER 121 



might gradually add to our knowledge and enlarge 

 the range of our ideas, were naturalists always to 

 note down any instance of one species seeming to 

 like the society of another, where a reason for the 

 preference was not discernible. How interesting, 

 too, to see this glad welcoming back of one speck in 

 the air, by another ! — for that was the construction 

 I placed upon it. Was there individual recognition 

 here ? Were the two birds mated ^ If this were so, 

 then — as it was September at the time — starlings 

 must mate for life, as most birds do, I believe. In 

 this case, the vast flocks, in which they fly, to roost, 

 through the winter, are only a mantle that masks 

 more intimate relations, and so it may be with 

 other birds. 



This I know, that starlings have hearts even in 

 winter. Sitting, in January, amidst the branches of a 

 gnarled old walnut tree that tops a sandy knoll over- 

 looking the marshes, I have often seen them wave 

 their wings in an emotional manner, whilst uttering, 

 at the same time, their half-singing, all-feeling notes. 

 They do this, especially, on the long, whistling 

 " whew " — the most lover-like part — and as the 

 wings are waved, they are, also, drooped, which gives 

 to the bird's whole bearing a sort of languish. The 

 same emotional state which inspires the note, must 

 inspire, also, its accompaniment, and one can judge of 

 the one by the other. Though of a different build 

 — not nearly so " massive " — these starlings might 

 say, with Lady Jane, ** I despair droopingly." But no, 

 there is no despair, and no reason for it. One of 

 them, now, enters a hole in the hollow branch where 

 he has been sitting, thus showing, still more plainly. 



