34 IN BIRD LAND. 



before us. Our exclamations of pleasure at the 

 scene were soon interrupted by a shadow hurtling 

 across the hollow, and on looking up, we saw a vast 

 army of crow blackbirds sweeping overhead, moving 

 about fifty abreast. How long the column was I 

 cannot say, but it extended over the hollow from 

 hilltop to hilltop and some distance beyond in both 

 directions. The odd feature about the ebon army's 

 evolutions was this : The vanguard had gone on far 

 beyond the ravine, and was pushing over the oppo- 

 site ridge, when there was a peculiar swaying move- 

 ment near the centre directly above the hollow ; 

 then that part of the column dropped gracefully 

 downward toward the trees below them ; at the 

 same moment those in the van swung lightly around 

 to the right and returned, while the rear part of 

 the column advanced rapidly, and then all swept 

 grandly down into the tops of the tall trees in the 

 ravine. It was a splendid mihtary pageant, and 

 might well start several queries in the interrogative 

 mind. Where was the commander-in-chief of that 

 sable army? Was he near the centre of the 

 column? If so, why should he station himself 

 there instead of at the head ? Again, how could 

 the message to return be sent so speedily to the 

 vanguard ? Do birds employ some occult method 

 of telegraphy? But these are questions more easily 

 asked than answered ; for no one, so far as I know, 

 has yet given special attention to the military tactics 

 of the armies in feathers. 



It may be a somewhat abrupt transition from a 



