OF SELBORNK. 247 



suppose, crowd together in pursuit of sus- 

 tenance at a time when it is most likely to 

 fail ; yet such associations do take place in 

 hard weather chiefly, and thicken as the 

 severity increases. As some kind of self- 

 interest, and self-defence is no doubt the 

 motive for the proceeding, may it not arise 

 from the helplessness of their state in such 

 rigorous seasons ; as men crowd together, 

 when under great calamities, though they 

 know not why ? Perhaps approximation 

 may dispel some degree of cold ; and a 

 crowd may make each individual appear 

 safer from the ravages of birds of prey and 

 other dangers. 



If I admire when I see how much con- 

 generous birds love to congregate, I am the 

 more struck when I see incongruous ones 

 in such strict amity. If we do not much 

 wonder to see a flock of rooks usually at- 

 tended by a train of daws, yet it is strange 

 that the former should so frequently have a 

 flight of starlings for their satellites. Is it 

 because rooks have amore discerning scent 

 than their attendants, and can lead them to 



