THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS IO1 



needed, but their numbers have swollen to such an extent 

 that the trees skirting the lake are needed to shelter the 

 huge flock which no man can number. Sometimes a daw 

 or a rook enters the preserves, but he does not stay long, 

 neither do the gulls that come here periodically. The 

 reason the starlings choose this particular clump of trees 

 no doubt is because it is sheltered and secluded, and by 

 selecting the island they appropriate the best protected 

 situation. The island, moreover, is the home of all the 

 wild fowl that live on the lake, but, as these do not use 

 the trees, the starlings have exclusive possession of the 

 branches. Now, while the starlings seem rather indifferent 

 about the possibilities of the park for food, other birds 

 are more appreciative. Wild and semi-wild are always in 

 residence at this picturesque resort. Most of them have 

 been bred here, and they come and go at will, so that their 

 numbers vary. The gulls visited the lake in large numbers 

 last back-end. At the close of the breeding season the 

 young gulls, mostly the kittiwake, sought this enclosure, 

 coming first in driblets and then by the score. One 

 morning there must have been quite a hundred of these 

 beautiful marine birds. 



There are no fish here of any size, but the birds make 

 short work of the minnows and the sticklebacks, which 

 are very active and prolific. The gulls, too, have an eye 

 for other scraps of food, as nothing comes wrong to them. 

 The chief attraction seems to be the fresh water. It isn't 

 every day one may see a gull dabbling and ducking, but 

 these white-winged visitors seem to come here on purpose, 

 for they are all the time spraying their backs, retiring 

 every now and then to the island to preen their feathers. 

 As the autumn night closes in, the starlings begin to 

 appear. Their most interesting movements are to be 

 observed when the birds, having picked up the last grub 

 for the day, prepare for roosting. If you are out in the 

 country you may chance to see some of the starling com- 

 panies in the pastures ; about sunset they make off to the 

 roosting-resorts. The birds do not always leave the 



