AUTUMN BIRD LIFE 251 



leaves the neighbourhood of Perth for the winter ; 

 and the Duke of Argyll makes the same observa- 

 tion about Inveraray. Plainly his migrations are 

 only local. 



The little dark hedge-warbler comes into view 

 for a moment, and disappears, once more, among the 

 confusing shadows of the twigs. A soft-billed bird, 

 like the robin, left behind by the departing warblers, 

 until perhaps he has lost wing power for so long a 

 flight, even if he desired it, he lacks the boldness 

 of the impudent little beggar of the window-sills. 

 Be it snow or rain, he remains out in the open. 



The winter form of bird life is flocking, just as 

 the spring form is pairing ; only the former is not 

 quite so universal, since there is not the same over- 

 mastering necessity. Indeed, there are certain very 

 obvious reasons, connected with the prime condition 

 of life, why certain species should remain scattered. 



The insect-eating birds which continue with us 

 do not flock, nor even those that live largely on soft 

 food. Neither of the insect-eating thrushes black- 

 bird and mavis flocks. On the other hand, the 

 berry-eating missel-thrush flocks. A not improbable 

 explanation is that insect food in the larval stages 

 is pretty much scattered; and, in winter, when 

 flocking takes place, scant, and hard to get. A 



