October 



row and white-tliroat have sung with considera- 

 ble frequency, and (judged by the autumn stand- 

 ard) quite well. With the approach of colder 

 weather the cardinal grosbeaks and goldfinches 

 — the latter more gregarious in winter — are 

 much more abundant than during the summer. 



So slight a thing as the manner of a bird's 

 movement when on the ground is worth atten- 

 tion, for it sometimes assists materially in deter- 

 mining the species, if seen only for an instant or 

 at a distance. Birds have three modes of pro- 

 gression on foot — walking, hopping, and run- 

 ning. The smaller birds are mostly hoppers, 

 like the common English sparrow, wherein the 

 tracks of the two feet, if made in the snow, 

 would be found side by side. The larger birds, 

 like crows and grackles, adopt the more digni- 

 fied method of walking, as befits their size ; and 

 when frightened into greater speed they take to 

 the wing. Rarely a small bird is seen to walk, 

 like the golden - crowned thrush, and always 

 with ludicrous effect. 



In passing along a country-road, notice the 

 gliding motion of the grass finch or vesper spar- 

 row, and of the thrasher, not frightened enough 



281 



