BIRD PARADISE in 



aside and the new introduced. The children of 

 the family roam far and wide, apparently entirely 

 divorced from all home ties. One would very 

 naturally conclude that they would grow stronger 

 with the passing of the days. There is every in- 

 dication during the helpless days of the young 

 birds that the relations of the family are steadily 

 increasing in strength. This continues until the 

 nestlings are equipped to care for themselves. 

 That point reached all home relations are sundered 

 as with a single stroke. In fact, it seems to set 

 aside with all species of birds very largely the 

 real affection that appears so strong during the 

 nesting season. The flocks that are now gather- 

 ing will increase in size until they enter upon the 

 flight southward next month. We saw the dif- 

 ferent species of plover passing the winter on the 

 plains of Oklahoma. Among them the killdeer 

 had place as a stirring and attractive member. 

 Sometimes when we were out on our long jour- 

 neys we levied on these flocks for a portion of our 

 supply of food and found it a most appetizing 

 addition to the sometimes scanty stock. 



Occasionally I hear a call from high in the air^ 

 telling of a company of water- fowl passing on their 

 way northward. Geese and ducks are both now 



