264 In Touch with Nature. 



the close of the summer the families of a neig 

 borhood unite, and, urged by the approach 

 autumn, the birds of a whole river valley vi 

 merge into some two or three great flocks, and 

 such close companionship migrate, or wander 

 and fro, from one feeding-ground to another. 



When did birds begin to flock ? This has oft 

 been asked, but never can be told. A close stu< 

 of this habit, as of many other bird-ways, poir 

 to the conclusion that it is a survival of a mui 

 more fixed one. There is now a vast deal ( 

 irregularity about it. Certainly the red-wing( 

 blackbirds, which form our largest flocks, are n 

 all gathered in, and single ones, pairs, and half 

 dozen together remain all winter scattered up ai 

 down the river valley. It is true of every oth 

 flocking bird. The majority keep up the old cu 

 tom, but so many stand aloof in every instani 

 that it might almost be said the custom is dyii 

 out. 



Let it be borne in mind that I am writing of 

 single locality, the Atlantic seaboard of the Midd 

 States, and of this region I am disposed to mal 

 the statement that man has so modified the lar 



