BROWSING IN OTHER FIELDS. 241 



south is extremely interesting. They assemble in 

 flocks, sometimes large enough to suggest an ecu- 

 menical council, and fall to cackling, twittering, 

 discussing, and in many other ways making prepa- 

 ration for their aerial voyage to another clime. 

 They really seem to regret being compelled to 

 leave their pleasant summer haunts, if one may 

 judge from the length and fervor of their good- 

 byes. Perhaps they are like human beings who 

 have a strong attachment for home, and must visit 

 every nook and tryst to say au revoir before they 

 take their departure. One can easily imagine how 

 dear to their hearts are the scenes of their child- 

 hood, and of their nest-building and brood-rearing. 

 No birds make a greater to-do over their leave- 

 taking in the autumn than the house martins. I 

 once visited for a few days with some friends who 

 live in the country and have had a bevy of mar- 

 tins in their boxes for many years. They described 

 the behavior of these birds when fall comes. At a 

 certain date in September they will gather in a 

 compact flock, sing and whistle and chatter at the 

 top of their voices, circle about the premises, alight- 

 ing on the trees, fences, and buildings, and then will 

 rise in the air and sail away through the blue ether. 

 Strange to say, they may return in a day or two, 

 and repeat their evolutions; and this may be 

 done several times before they say adieu and begin 

 their southward pilgrimage in real earnest. Why 

 do they do this ? One might well rack one's brain 

 in vain conjectures. Do they lose their way the 

 16 



