68 HOW BIRDS RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER 



Swans resemble one another to an extent 

 that makes it next to impossible to identify 

 any particular bird when a number are col- 

 lected together. We can, however, note the 

 males, females and cygnets ; otherwise, any 

 one in its class is as like to another as it is 

 possible to be. 



Now the question is, how do the birds manage 

 to pair off with their rightful owners when many 

 are together in company (a herd of swans) ? 



To suppose that a husband, in bird life, 

 can recognize his wife by facial or other dis- 

 tinguishing features, would imply that we are 

 still stumbling over the old obstacle — ^reasoning 

 mind. 



To recognize and identify anything from 

 outward appearances means, at least, mo- 

 mentary consideration. But, we have agreed, 

 birds don't think, not even for a moment (to 

 think is impossible without word-forms) ; 

 therefore, to scrutinize a mate with a view to 

 identification cannot be done without con- 

 scious mental effort. Birds have no need of 

 any effort of the kind, because, within a 

 certain area, telepathy unites them ; in the 

 case of a mated couple the connecting link is 

 yet stronger. Thus the birds pair off together, 

 whether in the daytime, or at night, without 

 necessarily calling to one another. 



