THE EARLY COLD WEATHER 187 



light that stretched across the heavens. The one that 

 passed through the zenith was of a blue so intense, 

 that the sky on either side, deep blue as it really was, 

 appeared pale, almost white, in contrast. 



During the last few days, when in the garden in the 

 morning, I have been struck by the number of flocks 

 of wild ducks, wild geese, cranes, and other aquatic 

 birds that have passed by overhead. At this season 

 of the year they can hardly be migrating to colder 

 regions, and yet they have all been directing their 

 course more or less to the north. 



The flocks have never been large ; the largest have 

 been those of the wild ducks, but even these have 

 seldom consisted of more than twenty or twenty-five 

 birds. From the height, however, at which they fly, it 

 is not easy to quite correctly ascertain their numbers. 

 The wild ducks, and indeed most of the other aquatic 

 birds, fly in two converging lines ; the lines unite in 

 front, forming a figure resembling the letter V. The 

 reason for this arrangement usually assigned is that 

 it enables the flock to pass most easily through the 

 air, just as a sharp-prowed boat does through the water. 



I am not quite sure that this explanation is correct ; 

 but one fact appears to support it. The foremost bird, 

 the bird at the point of the V, never for very long 

 retains his position ; after a short interval he drops to 

 the rear, and some other bird succeeds him. From this 

 it may be inferred that the foremost position is the most 

 laborious, as having the greatest resistance of the air to 

 overcome ; and if so, the resistance of the air must be 

 lessened for the birds that follow. 



