126 ROOKS. 



Wigtownshire rooks multiplied, finding no Wigtownshire wood 

 large enough for their increased winter requirements, they betook 

 themselves to the far seen Stewartry beeches. But this by the 

 way. 



My object has been to describe a remarkable exception to a rule, 

 the general truth of which I am very far from venturing to 

 dispute. 



Let me close with a question. Has the gregarious flight of birds 

 ever been really explained ? In some instances we can, doubtless, 

 easily understand that they follow a leader. Of course it is so in 

 family flocks, as of long-tailed tits. There clearly the parents 

 lead, the young ones follow. It looks like it too in a flock of wild 

 geese. There seems a leader who always leads. But when you 

 look at a flock of rooks, or buntings, or sparrows, it seems to me 

 that now one, now another, is in front. It is difficult to feel quite 

 sure of leadership among them. But it is altogether impossible to 

 believe in it, at least speaking for myself, as regards a cloud of 

 starlings. When they are dashing about at inconceivable speed, 

 for some inconceivable purpose, often with an extended front, no 

 individual starling in front of his fellows, no cry of command, no 

 conceivable reason for their all in their hundreds at the very same 

 instant rushing off at a sharp angle from their course, it seems to 

 me that I am looking at a very puzzling bird phenomenon. There- 

 fore, as I said, I close with the question has the gregarious flight 

 of birds ever been really explained ? 



