1 4 o ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



higher interest when we study them in conjunc- 

 tion with the mental attributes of the birds them- 

 selves. What vast variety we find, for instance, 

 in the degree of sociability which exists in certain 

 species. Some birds are regular hermits, living 

 lives of solitary seclusion, only seeking the 

 society of their own species during the period 

 of reproduction. Others are just as gregarious 

 in their instincts, banding together, and perform- 

 ing all their functions in the company of their 

 kind ; many not only join into communities with 

 their own species, but are exceedingly social, and 

 mix freely with other and often very distantly 

 related birds. Some birds are companionable or 

 gregarious at one season and solitary and un- 

 sociable at others ; some live in pairs all the year ; 

 others separate as soon as the brood is reared. 

 Many curious facts may be observed relating to 

 the songs of birds. Some birds are so pugnacious 

 when engaged with their music that they will 

 scarcely admit of a rival within hearing ; whilst 

 others delight to sit and warble, one against the 

 other, in perfect peace and unity. A few birds 

 sing all the year round, the moulting season ex- 

 cepted ; others warble during the season of court- 

 ship and love alone ; whilst some only at rare and 

 long intervals indulge in song at all ; as, for 

 instance, the Brown Flycatcher, the Yellow 

 Wagtail, and the House Sparrow. 



Now a few words on the mating of birds. 

 The rule is for birds to pair with fresh mates 



