266 
BIRD-LIFE, 
uncultivated fields, islands and caverns, are the places 
usually selected for such meetings, and are always care¬ 
fully sought after. Many song-birds are so fond of them 
as to visit them during the breeding season while their 
mates are sitting; they then return home, as in duty 
bound, not roosting in company, as is their usual wont. 
After all the members of the assembly have met 
together, preparations are made for going to bed. Harm¬ 
less birds, alone, break up the meeting and retire to rest 
without further ceremony. All cautious species first 
thoroughly examine the locality by means of spies, and 
await their report before quitting the place of assembly. 
Crows and Cranes, the most cunning birds I know, after 
having once been disturbed, are not always satisfied with 
the report brought in, but require its further confirmation 
by some of the more experienced males. Once thoroughly 
satisfied of their safety, the whole company suddenly 
rises with a loud cry (which, however, never lasts long), 
and flies noiselessly and silently to the sleeping-place. 
Those birds only which roost on islands and lakes, or in 
marshes or thick trees, and are careless in their habits, 
ever chatter or make much noise long after reaching the 
sleeping-place ; some of these, however, do make a fearful 
noise. 
Sparrows when retiring to roost always quarrel among 
themselves before matters are finally arranged. In a 
well-frequented marsh the various noises, screams, 
quacking, snapping, whistling, twittering, drumming, 
croaking, and screeching, &c., are perfectly deafening, 
and continue far into the night; silence being only 
gradually restored, screams and croakings drop to a low 
murmur, one voice after another becomes silent, and by 
midnight one and all are fast asleep. Young birds are 
