Birds of a Feather 



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certain cliffy coasts of islets, or within the re- 

 cesses of some swamps, is due mainly to the fact 

 that places suitable for their nesting and feed- 

 ing are limited, and local crowding results ; but 

 this will not explain gregarious breeding habits 

 in others, such as the wild pigeon and various 

 swallows and seed-eaters. 



Mutual self -protection is certainly not now 

 the reason for the flocking, whatever may have 

 been the case in the remote past (when perhaps 

 the tendency thus arose under different condi- 

 tions), for the danger from enemies to birds 

 in this country, at least, is increased by herding 

 rather than diminished. We are driven back, 

 then, to the simple and natural reason that birds 

 enjoy one another's society. 



This fraternal, sympathetic, one might say 

 affectionate, disposition is apparent in all their 

 relations with one another that is, within their 

 own tribe. 



Most birds show much conjugal attachment, 

 and from the courting time in spring until the 

 young are well grown most mates remain to- 

 gether. Some of the large birds of prey seem 



*$ 187 So 



