104 THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 



off in twos and threes, and away they go, just skimming 

 the trees and house-tops, mostly in a westward direction, 

 and all bent on getting to the feeding-grounds in the 

 shortest possible time. This mighty gathering at the 

 park goes on until the trees, divested of their leaves, no 

 longer afford the birds protection ; then warmer quarters 

 are sought among the farmers' ricks or the isolated reed 

 beds. But the circumstance of the birds changing quar- 

 ters does not affect their daily methods of assembling 

 and dispersing; in fact, the starling battalions do not 

 break up until the breeding season comes round. 



