A TROPIC GARDEN 249 



which had lost a single feather from each wing. 

 So there was no hit-or-miss method — no luck in 

 the strongest birds taking toll from more than 

 two of the returning parents. 



Observing this vesper migration in different 

 places, I began to see orderly segregation on a 

 large scale. All the smaller herons dwelt to- 

 gether on certain islands in more or less social 

 tolerance; and on adjoining trees, separated by 

 only a few yards, scores of hawks concentrated 

 and roosted, content with their snail diet, and 

 wholly ignoring their neighbors. On the other 

 side of the gardens, in aristocratic isolation, was 

 a colony of stately American egrets, dainty and 

 graceful. Their circumference of radiation was 

 almost or quite a circle, for they preferred the 

 ricefields for their daily hunting. Here the great 

 birds, snowy white, with flowing aigrettes, and 

 long, curving necks, settled with dignity, and 

 here they slept and sat on their rough nests of 

 sticks. 



When the height of homing flight of the host 

 of herons had passed, I noticed a new element of 

 restlessness, and here and there among the fo- 

 liage appeared dull-brown figures. There oc- 

 curred the comic explanation of white herons 



