The Gathering of the Clans. 269 



never succeeded. I have reversed the conditions 

 more than once, and, being concealed, have had 

 them pass within arm's reach, and then I took 

 notes of them as fast as possible. That they talked 

 faster when they ate was evident, but my disguise 

 never was effective for long. They always sus- 

 pected that something was wrong, communicated 

 their suspicions, and now the mystery : one and 

 all rise from the ground as one body. Not always, 

 but so frequently that a telegraphic signal is evi- 

 dently theirs that informs a thousand, it may be, 

 at the same moment. Without this power, this 

 possession of rudimentary language, a flock of 

 birds would be at the mercy of every enemy, and 

 they are legion. 



Suggestive as is every flock of birds, we really 

 know but little about them. No naturalist has 

 yet fathomed the mystery of bird-life, and bird- 

 slaughter has accomplished comparatively noth- 

 ing. But no class of animals affords so much 

 pleasure wherever we ramble. 



23* 



