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A single roosting place seems to be selected toward which all 

 the birds direct their way. In the extensive Montezuma 

 Marshes, at the foot of Cayuga Lake, this roost is frequently 

 at the northerly end, so that birds coming in from the south 

 often fly over miles of marsh before reaching the place. With 

 them are often associated Cowbirds, Crackles, and Rusty 

 Blackbirds. The form of the flock is rather irregular, but 

 always with the long axis at right angles to the direction of 

 flight (Plate VIII, fig. 1), thus differing from the characteristic 

 form of the flocks of Crackles which sometimes extend for over 

 a mile in length, although only a few rods wide. The maxi- 

 mum flight occurs at sundown. The morning flight is not so 

 regular as that in the evening, and it extends over a shorter 

 period. Beginning a few minutes before sunrise, flocks are 

 continually in sight for about thirty minutes. Their formation 

 is open and they vary in numbers, from a few to over ten 

 thousand birds, the largest flocks extending to the east and to 

 the west as far as the eye can see, but generally not more than 

 a hundred birds deep. During the evening flight the sexes are 

 generally in separate flocks, except for some of the last birds 

 to arrive, among which there is a considerable mixture. The 

 method of segregation of these birds in the morning flight is 

 interesting. A single male or a small group of males, finding 

 themselves in a flock of females, drop out of the ranks and 

 await the appearance of a flock of their own sex, or until their 

 own numbers are suflB.ciently augmented to form a flock of 

 some size, when they are again up and away. Half an hour 

 after the morning flight has commenced, scarcely a Redwing 

 is to be found in the marsh. The fall migration continues 

 until about the middle of November. The last birds seen are 

 generally scattered flocks of females. 



Enemies. 

 Reference has already been made to some of the enemies or 

 forces which tend toward the destruction of the Redwings. 

 The presence of Minks and Weasels in the marsh has been 

 mentioned. In the same category with them might be placed 

 the Marsh, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Pigeon Hawks, 

 8 



