BROWSING [IN OTHER FIELDS. ZAI 
south is extremely interesting. They assemble in 
flocks, sometimes large enough to suggest an ecu- 
menical council, and fall to cackling, twittering, 
discussing, and in many other ways making prepa- 
ration for their aerial voyage to another clime. 
They really seem to regret being compelled to 
leave their pleasant summer haunts, if one may 
judge from the length and fervor of their good- 
byes. Perhaps they are like human beings who 
have a strong attachment for home, and must visit 
every nook and tryst to say au revoir before they 
take their departure. One can easily imagine how 
dear to their hearts are the scenes of their child- 
hood, and of their nest-building and brood-rearing. 
No birds make a greater to-do over their leave- 
taking in the autumn than the house martins. I 
once visited for a few days with some friends who 
live in the country and have had a bevy of mar- 
tins in their boxes for many years. ‘They described 
the behavior of these birds when fall comes. At a- 
certain date in September they will gather in a 
compact flock, sing and whistle and chatter at the 
top of their voices, circle about the premises, alight- 
ing on the trees, fences, and buildings, and then will 
rise in the air and sail away through the blue ether. 
Strange to say, they may return in a day or two, 
and repeat their evolutions; and this may be 
done several times before they say adieu and begin 
their southward pilgrimage in real earnest. Why 
do they do this? One might well rack one’s brain 
in vain conjectures. Do they lose their way the 
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