THE TEMPLES OF THE HILLS 267 



the ground chases a rabbit; but the best display is 

 when he goes after a flock of starlings. At no other 

 time does a company of these birds appear so like 

 a single organism composed of many separate bodies 

 governed by one will. Only when he is in the midst 

 of the crowd, if, in spite of their quick doublings, he 

 succeeds in getting there, do they instantly all fly 

 apart and are like the flying fragments of a violently 

 shattered mass; then, if he has not already made his 

 capture, he singles out one bird to pursue. 



A still better spectacle is afforded by the fiery- 

 hearted little bird-hunter when, after the harvest, 

 he ranges over the fields; when the village sparrows, 

 mixed with finches of several species, are out on the 

 stubble, often in immense congregations covering 

 half a large field from end to end. On such occasions 

 they like to feed near a hedge and are thickest on the 

 ground at a distance of three or four seconds' flight 

 from the thorny shelter. Suddenly the dreaded 

 enemy appears, topping the hedges at its far end, and 

 at the same instant the whole vast gathering, ex- 

 tending the entire length of the field, is up in the 

 air, their innumerable, swiftly fluttering, translucent 

 wings, which produce a loud humming sound, giving 

 them the appearance of a dense silvery-brown mist 

 springing up from the earth. In another instant 

 they are safe in the hedge and not a bird is visible. 

 In some instances the hawk is too intent on his 

 prey to hurry on to other fields hoping for better luck 

 next time. No, there are thousands here; he will 

 drive them out and have one! Then, heedless of 



