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southward up the Inlet Valley. Presently we discern what 

 appears like a puff of smoke in the distance, drifting in at 

 a considerable height. After a minute or two the smoke 

 is resolved into an aggregation of black specks, and then, 

 as it drops lower and lower, it takes on that irregular form so 

 characteristic of the flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (Plate 

 VIII, fig. 1). With one last swoop and flutter of wings, they 

 alight on the more prominent of the few scraggly trees at the 

 southern end of the marsh. The migration has begun. For a 

 few moments they shake out their feathers and give vent to 

 their feelings in song. It is but a short time, however, before 

 they start again for the north. As they pass over the marsh, 

 individuals drop from the ranks and float down to projecting 

 branches or cat-tails, but the main body continues on its way 

 to the lake, where it rises and swings to the west ; then gaining 

 the brow of the hill, it turns once more on a northward course. 

 Meanwhile, other flocks appear and repeat the same maneuvers. 

 These are followed by others, until the marsh is well populated 

 with birds that have dropped from the migrating flocks. The 

 marsh resounds with their songs. These might be thought of 

 as resident birds selecting this marsh as their abode for the 

 year, but such is not the case. Many of them make their 

 way by short flights to the north end of the marsh, where 

 considerable flocks gather in the willows along the lake shore. 

 Then, as a migrating flock passes over, they fly up and join it, 

 and are again on their way toward their more northern homes. 

 Occasionally a flock, upon reaching the lake, swings to the east 

 and continues along that side of the lake, but the majority 

 hold to the west. The first flocks to arrive in the evening come 

 from the south and drop in from a considerable height, but 

 as it grows later, they are seen flying lower and lower until 

 the last barely skim the hills. These flocks do not come from 

 the south, but from the southeast and east. They are more 

 compact, and are intent upon but one thing — the finding of a 

 place to roost. The place selected is a spot where the flags 

 are not quite so completely burned and a little more shelter 

 is afforded. Toward this spot, as if with some previous 

 knowledge of its location, all of these later flocks direct their 



