WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 235 



starlings love to roost. If you should be passing along 

 any road east, north, west, or south a mile or two 

 distant, as the sun is sinking and evening approaching, 

 suddenly there will come a rushing sound in the air 

 overhead : it is a flock of starlings flying in their 

 determined manner straight for the distant copse. 

 From every direction these flocks converge upon it 

 some large, some composed only of a dozen birds, but 

 all with the same intent. If the country chances to 

 be open, the hedges low, and the spectator on a rise 

 so as to see over some distance, he may observe sev- 

 eral such flights at the same time. Rooks, in returning 

 to roost, fly in long streams, starlings in numerous, 

 separate divisions. This is especially noticeable in 

 summer, when the divisions are composed of fewer 

 birds ; in winter the starlings congregate in larger 

 bodies. 



It would appear that after the young birds are able 

 to fly they flock together in parties by themselves, 

 the old birds clubbing together also, but all meeting 

 at night. The parties of young birds are easily distin- 

 guished by their lighter colour. This may not be an 

 invariable rule (for the birds to range themselves accord- 

 ing to age), but it is the case frequently. Viewed from 

 a -spot three or four fields away, the copse in the even- 

 ing seems to be overhung by a long, dark cloud like a 

 bar of mist, while the sky is clear and no dew has yet 

 risen. The resemblance to a cloud is so perfect that 

 any one not thinking of such things may for the 

 time be deceived, and wonder why a cloud should 



