268 BIRD' WATCHING 



the second band increases his distance, curves a good 

 deal out of the line originally pursued, nor do the 

 others alter their course in accordance. 



" Two other bands. In each the leader theory seems 

 untenable. The birds have a broadly extended front, 

 and fly at different elevations. There is nothing that 

 suggests concerted movement, but, on the contrary, 

 great irregularity. 



" In another band the apparent leader swoops down 

 to the ground, and, whilst only half-a-dozen or so 

 follow him, the main body proceeds on its way. 



" Hitherto there has been a good deal of the familiar 

 cawing noise, but, now, a number of birds fly joyously 

 up, hang floating in the air, make twists and tumbles, 

 perform antics and evolutions, and descend upon the 

 ground with wide parachute-like swoops from side to 

 side, the wings outspread and without a flap. I am 

 first made aware of their approach by the complete 

 change of note. It is now the flexible, croodling, 

 upturned note — rising at the end, I mean — that I 

 know not how to describe, totally different from the 

 ' caw,' nor do I hear a ' caw ' from any of these 

 descending birds. It is the note of joy and sport, 

 of joyous sport in the air, of antics there as they 

 sweep joyously down through it, that I now hear. 

 The birds that caw are flying steadily and soberly 

 by. The ' caw ' is the steady jog-trot note of the 

 day's daily toil and business — 'Jog on, jog on, the 

 footpath way.' 



" Another great band, of such length and straggling 

 formation that the birds in the latter part of it could 

 not possibly see the leader if there were one — or 

 indeed, I should think, the vanguard at all. The 



