588 IIIRUNDO URBICA. 



from the fields, I observed the old birds dashing up to the 

 window, then describing short curves in the air, and repeat- 

 ing a note, the meaning of which could not be misunderstood. 

 I knew from experience the young were about to take their 

 flight. One of them balanced itself in the entrance, looked 

 timidly into the void, considered the risk for sometime, and 

 then allowed its fellow to take its place. During all this time 

 the j^arents kept diving about, within a few feet of the nest, 

 and often flutterintj within a few inches of the entrance, and 

 endeavouring by many winning gestures to induce their charge 

 to follow them. The remaining bird also, after sitting for 

 some time, distrustful of its powers, retired, and the first one 

 once more appeared. Opening and shutting his wings, and 

 often half preparing to retire, he at length summoned up all his 

 resolution, sprung from his perch, and with his self-taught 

 pinions winnowed the air. He and the parents, who were in 

 ecstacies, returned to the window, and, being joined by the 

 other young bird, they all day long sported chiefly about the 

 tree tops, till seven in the evening, when they re-entered the 

 nest. The following day they were again sporting about, and 

 the young were repeatedly fed by their parents. In the even- 

 ing, about six o'clock, a most interesting scene occurred. Con- 

 trary to my wishes, the nest was pulled down. On their re- 

 turn, each dashed up into the corner in which it had been 

 fixed, and then without uttering a sound they all wheeled 

 about, and again successively examined the place. Shrieking 

 their alarm note, they now darted wildly over the tops of the 

 laurels and hollies, advanced and retired. Each examination 

 served to increase their rage or alarm, and now a dozen of their 

 neighbours from New Whittingham arrived, examined the 

 window, and joined the injured family, thereby greatly in- 

 creasing the confusion and uproar. If one clung to the win- 

 dow corner, two or three settled on his back, and down they 

 came. In this manner they kept hovering about for an hour, 

 when they disappeared. The family group frequented our fields 

 for some days, and then withdrew for the season. 



" In several instances I have seen the neighbours add their 

 inducements to those of the parents, when the latter invite their 



