60 



BIRDS. 



acceptation, as I have witnessed their arrival at their nesting haunts in 

 vast "flights," dispersing however at once on arrival.) 



And there is yet another class of birds which are gregarious at all 

 periods of their lives, except when for a very short space of time they 

 separate for the purposes of nidification, etc. I may instance amongst such 

 many, but select as well known the Snow-Bunting as an example. The 

 Snow-Buntings keep in " flocks " from leaving their nesting haunts, gaining 

 in numbers, and remain so close up to the succeeding breeding season. 

 Amongst Waders I may instance the Knot and Dunlin. 



The last I will notice is a small class of birds which seem to alter the 

 whole circumstances of their lives upon the question of nesting in colonies, 

 or nesting in decided seclusion in different regions or localities. Perhaps no 

 bird so clearly illustrates this as the Osprey, which nests in colonies in the 

 United States of North America, but in Europe, so far as I am aware, only 

 in isolated pairs. 



I hope these differentiations may be more clearly shown under the 

 several species in the following list. And I hope those of my readers who 

 attach any importance to the facts will consider them carefully as to any 

 bearing that may be read into or from them upon the subjects of migration 

 and distribution. 



Besides the usual designations of faunal values in general use, I pro- 

 pose to add several others. Besides Eesidents, Winter Visitants, Summer 

 Visitants, Passing (Spring or Autumn) Migrants, and Occasional Vagrants, 

 viz. : — 



Truly Gregarious, i,e. " flocking " at all seasons. 



Not truly Gregarious, i.e. " flighting" at the migration seasons (spring or 

 autumn, or both), but separating on arrival at their destinations, and acting 

 independently of each other during the winter months. 



Solitary, i.e. nesting separately, migrating separately, and remaining 

 separately, or only in family parties, most of their lives, except possibly 

 when "accident" or "circumstances" bring them together in certain 

 places. 



Partly Gregarious, i.e. entirely so, except at the nesting season^ when they 

 separate for the breeding-time. 



So far as the present purposes require, I need not insist too much upon 

 a class represented by the Osprey, though that fact may well be kept in 

 view. I mean such few species which are known to nest in colonies, as the 

 Osprey does in the United States or Long Island, but not at other seasons ; 

 or, to take a more familiar example, as the Heron does in this country. 



