CHAPTER IV. 



MIXED CONGREGATIONS. 



HE who pays attention to the habits and move- 

 ments of birds during the months of autumn, will 

 not fail to remark the great increase of their 

 gregarious and social instincts. Birds seem com- 

 pelled to fraternise, and even the most solitary 

 ones show an inclination to join with their own 

 kind into parties, or to attach themselves to flocks 

 of very different species. It may be that many of 

 these gatherings are for the purpose of increased 

 safety, a flock being always more difficult to ap- 

 proach than single birds. During the period of 

 their migrations, birds seem to love companion- 

 ship, and not only travel with their own kind, 

 but with birds of many other species. Many 

 young birds are even more gregariously inclined 

 than their parents, and as soon as ever they are 

 able to take care of themselves, they form into 

 parties and flocks for the remainder of the year. 

 Old birds do not display much social tendency 

 until after they have completed their autumn moult, 

 and some species remain solitary after this event 



