294 
BIRD-LIFE. 
faithfully helping his companion in “ household matters,” 
lives with her on terms of the most tender intimacy and 
affection. Nothing is more charming than to witness 
this close union as exhibited at home amongst our 
Swallows, and, in the South, between Bee-eaters. The 
noisy Swifts and Martins withdraw themselves in pairs 
from amongst the flock, though so sociable at other 
times; Bavens, Rooks, Magpies, and Jays, rarely sepa¬ 
rate for more than a few minutes after they have once 
paired. The former occasionally have a long game of 
“touch last” with other couples, chasing one another 
through the air, have a chat, and then each pair 
returns to its own particular resting-place. Rooks 
assemble in the evening in large flocks on fallow fields, 
from which they return later to their common roosting- 
place ; during the day, however, each pair keeps together. 
I have observed exactly the same thing with the Kite at 
Toledo. The conjugal state among birds is the happiest 
and the purest that we have. The most perfect unity of 
feeling exists between the pair: there are no quarrels, no 
“ curtain-lectures” on stopping out too late ! But rather 
manifestations of delight on the return of the absent one, 
if he or she has been prevented from coming home at the 
time appointed. It is true there are exceptions to this 
rule, as to all others. The Buck tribe, for instance, 
seem to have very imperfect ideas on the subject of 
paternal duties. As soon as their spouses sit hard, the 
Brakes of different pairs all club together, and pass the 
time amusing themselves in company, leaving all family 
cares—such as taking the numerous progeny to feed, 
guiding and protecting them—to their female partner; 
whereas the Gander manfully and heartily takes his full 
share in the household duties. And yet, among Bucks, 
