70 By Leafy Ways. 



Birds in general prefer company, and, even if they 

 do not build in communities, will associate in small 

 parties, if not in flocks, when the breeding season is 

 over. 



We are familiar with a few special names for these 

 companies. We talk of a covey of partridges, a pack 

 of grouse, a string of teal, or even a bevy of quails. 

 But we do not hear in these days of a walk of snipe, 

 an exaltation of larks, or a nye of pheasants. 



Some are quite exclusive and keep pretty much to 

 their own family circle. 



Other birds again and there are many such are 

 not sociable at all. Thus the robin, with all his 

 winning ways, will brook no rival in his little territory, 

 will allow no other bird to share his mistress's bounty, 

 and will drive away, not always without bloodshed, 

 any who venture on the forbidden ground. He is as 

 pugnacious as a gamecock, and, except in the spring, 

 is generally alone. 



Herons, too, although they breed in company, and 

 pile their broad nests thickly among the trees of the 

 heronry, are seldom seen in numbers away from home; 

 and should a troop of them go down to the shore to 

 fish together, they are as silent as a party of friars, 

 and exchange no remarks at all beyond an occasional 

 croak as they fly leisurely homeward across the 

 moor. 



The heron loves best the solitary stream that winds 

 its devious way through the meadows past the mill. 



