THE TALK OF THE BIRDS. 405 



proceed to scatter in search of food, and passing the 

 night in this way, reassemble in small batches on the 

 water by dawn on the following morning. These 

 times therefore generally form the best opportunities 

 for the gunner's skill if he can ascertain what are 

 known as the duck passes, or lines by which they 

 fly when dispersing at dark and reassembling at dawn, 

 good sport can generally be had: but of this we shall 

 have more to say presently. 



When the flocks have reassembled, and when an 

 opportunity occurs to examine them by day with a 

 good glass, they are never found all asleep together: 

 a certain number of alert sentries are always posted 

 on the outskirts of the flock, which with head erect, 

 keep watch with unflagging vigilance over the 

 safety of the sleeping company, exactly as do the 

 sentinels of a human army in a hostile country. This 

 shows a high degree of organization and discipline; 

 the practice seems to be common to all assemblages 

 of creatures of the animal kingdom, whether birds or 

 quadrupeds: all seem to be more or less vigilant in 

 this respect, and even when the rest of the company 

 are busily employed in feeding, the sentinels do not 

 partake of food, but keep constantly on the alert. 

 These watchful guards must of course be changed from 

 time to time, and others appointed to keep watch in 

 their place. How is all this to be managed, unless 

 there is complete discipline, and a clear understanding 

 as to these duties, among the flocks? This power of 

 organization betokens, to our mind, a far higher order 

 of intelligence among members of the animal creation 

 than people generally give them credit for. 



Then there is the question of the language of wild- 



