October 
row and white-throat 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. 
9 
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 thrushy 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 
