0n the return of Spring the birds do not migrate in a body, but slipaway, flock by flock, to reappear about the end of April in their ancientbreeding-place in the North Country, with, maybe, the loss of a fewmembers--the one that was ancient and died in the season of scarcity; andone that was taken at the roost by a brown owl, and one that had itsfeet frozen to the perch; and was killed by a jackdaw when struggling tofree itself; and one that was struck down by a sparrow-hawk on hishomeward journey.

What I sometimes have so far been unable to trace is the career of the youthful afterAugust. We look at that once they are able to fend for themselves they clubtogether in tiny flocks and continue together during their "brownthrush" stage, but by and by they get the adult plumage and language andare no longer distinguishable as youthful. Do they, then, join the very agedbirds before the wandering and migrating south begins? And do they pairor not before the winter?