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have been the case, however, that owing to the previous mild 

 weather these birds had wintered in some quarter close at hand, 

 with no intention of migrating any further, unless compelled 

 by severe weather ? The circumstance is alluded to here on 

 account of the suggestion on the part of Herr Gatke that these 

 flocks had apparently hit upon the right way of escaping from a 

 difficulty. 



