iA OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
down than a flock of starlings took possession of the 
field, and began pecking away in their usual indus- 
trious manner. In order to ascertain whether their 
proceedings were friendly or hostile, a gun was fired 
into the flock, and two birds killed. On these being 
opened, however, their crops were found to contain 
nothing but insects, proving that the grass-seed had 
no attractions for them, and that they might safely be 
trusted to do no mischief, even when assembled in a 
newly-sown field. 
It is a curious fact that these flocks of starlings, 
during flight, are always under the guidance of a 
single leader, whose directions seem to be instantly 
transmitted to every member of his following. And 
the instantaneous manner in which these commands 
are obeyed must have been noticed by every one 
who has watched these birds while on the wing. The 
flock seems to move by a single impulse, swerving in 
this direction or in that with the unanimity which 
characterises a regiment of soldiers, and sometimes 
going through the most complicated manceuvres as 
though indeed actuated by a common spirit. Some- 
times the flock will suddenly resolve itself into a 
number of companies, which, after wheeling and 
circling twice or thrice, will again unite and continue 
their onward progress. 
How the word of command, if we may use the 
expression, is so rapidly transmitted is a puzzling 
question. It may be, of course, that each bird’s 
attention is fixed on the leader, and that its control 
over its muscles is sufficiently great to enable it to 
