242 Cox, A Bird Wave. [July 
Outside of these flanks few birds were to be seen — either toward 
the centre of the river, or over the meadow through which I was 
walking; the bull were massed in this narrow column and kept 
directly over the margin of the shore, apparently guided by the 
line of strong contrast between the whitened meadow and the 
dark waters of the river. They moved on in perfect silence, save 
for the flutter of the myriad wings, —not a note was heard from 
them. Their flight was slow and suggested weariness, but they 
displayed no inclination to rest, though the tree-tops were thrust 
so temptingly toward them. However, in about half an hour 
from the time when they were first observed some individuals 
showed a disposition to halt. An occasional Song Sparrow or 
Junco would alight on the top of a tall tree, and after remaining 
at rest for a few seconds — never longer than half a minute — 
would grow uneasy and utter a rather faint cry or chirp. This 
call would be answered by one or more of those on the wing, 
and then the loiterer would rise and join them. 
The storm increasing, I abandoned the idea of looking for 
Ducks that day, and seeking the refuge of an adjacent house, for 
more than two hours I watched this bird wave as it rolled along. 
There was no gap, no cessation, neither was there deviation from 
the line of the river bank. As the time passed the smaller birds 
displayed evidence of growing more and more weary. Increased 
numbers alighted, and these took longer rests, and made more 
energetic demands for a general halt. About eight o’clock, and 
as if by the command of a leader, or by magic, the moving host 
vanished. 
Previous to this morning only an occasional early bird of these 
spring migrants had been observed, but now as I returned home- 
ward I found every bush and fence swarming with birds. As 
snow had fallen to the depth of some four or five inches, little 
food could be obtained, and by noon great flocks had gathered in 
the farmyards, and that afternoon many a kind hand strewed 
crumbs and seeds upon the snow for these little friends — heralds 
of warm days and smiling fields. 
How was this wave formed? What brought this throng of birds 
together? I cannot think that they had wintered within a lim-~ 
ited area and begun the movement northward at the same hour. 
I am inclined to the opinion that such flocks are comparatively 
small at the start, and increase by attracting similar small com- 
