THE FAERY YEAR 



gradually but surely segregates the parties, in the 

 end to send each half to its proper sleeping quarters. 

 The rooks hang and soar and shoot up and loop, 

 and at times mount the empty air as if they were on 

 some unseen spiral staircase to heaven ; till at last 

 the entire party for the second rookery is gathered 

 together. Then away it goes in plain straightforward 

 flight to its goal. I do not say that this is the end ; 

 perhaps when the rooks have reached that goal they 

 cut figures and waver and hover and are as voluble 

 as are their late comrades at the first rookery reached 

 by the flock. But that is another thing. My idea 

 here is that the high movements at the point of 

 separation go on till the second half of the flock feels 

 that it is gathered together and compact, and then a 

 straightforward course to its proper roosting station 

 is taken. 



The Redbreast Threnody 



People say the description of the robin as 

 "autumn songster " is apt to mislead, for the bird 

 sings as much in spring and early summer as now, 

 though his notes are then lost in the general concert. 

 The robin does sing at all seasons, but no less is he 

 the master musician of autumn. His song is so 

 attuned to the very spirit of the October afternoon 

 that, listening to it on certain days, we have to 

 reason out the motive of bird music before we can 

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