HARD FARE. 67 



frequently see a loose, heterogeneous troop of birds 

 pass my door, engaged in the common search for 

 food : snow-birds, Canada sparrows, and goldfinches 

 on the ground, and kinglets and nut-hatches in the 

 tree above, all drifting slowly in the same direction, 

 the snow-birds and sparrows closely associated, but 

 the goldfinches rather clannish and exclusive, while 

 the kinglets and nut-hatches keep still more aloof. 

 These birds were probably not drawn, even thus 

 loosely, together by any social instincts, but by a 

 common want ; all were hungry, and the activity of 

 one species attracted and drew after it another and 

 another. " I will look that way, too," the kinglet and 

 creeper probably said, when they saw the other birds 

 busy and heard their merry voices. 



