192 BEACH GRASS 



snapping of bills, these birds ascended to the 

 leafy tree-tops where there was much shifting of 

 positions and animated conversation. Occasion- 

 ally a pair in active fight would come to the 

 ground, but for the most part all the birds after 

 the first, including the newcomers who were ar- 

 riving in numbers, remained in the tree-tops. 

 The din began to diminish at half-past six and 

 at a quarter of seven, the birds were sleeping 

 so soundly that they did not arouse when I left 

 the forest. 



Early in the season the morning chorus from 

 this assembly of robins is full-throated and glo- 

 rious. After the end of July or the first of Aug- 

 ust the morning awakening is destitute, or nearly 

 destitute, of song. Occasionally a single robin 

 makes a feeble attempt to sing. Song is replaced, 

 however, by many conversational notes and a 

 general shifting and fluttering about through the 

 trees as if a gossipy reception was being held be- 

 fore the birds leave for the day. 



The morning awakening, early in September, 

 begins about half-past four and the birds are 

 nearly all gone by five o'clock. Very different 



