MIDDLE OF MAY 103 
other, whilst a more assertive Thrush filled 
in the interval with its human-sounding 
trills. We heard the tender little hedge- 
sparrow close by, and a cock bullfinch dis- 
playing his almost crimson breast, and perched 
—as he loves to be—at the end of a dead bough, 
gurgled softly to his mate somewhere. Busy, 
noisy starlings flitted from the chimneys 
not far off, to the apple and cherry trees, 
thinking perhaps of the time soon to be, 
when there would be a feast of fruit for them. 
Even their attempts at song were musical, 
we thought, and it was pleasant to hear the 
sparrows’ homely chirrups as, almost un- 
heeding us, they busied themselves searching 
for insects amongst the buds on the twigs 
which bent down with their weight. Then 
three or four cocks would tumble to the 
ground, beaks and claws mixed up in a seem- 
ingly inextricable mass, a quarrelling pecking 
group (as is their wont at nesting time, 
when they fiercely guard their chosen brides 
from the impudent attentions of rival 
suitors). Of course the robin was there ; 1s 
