PERSONALITY IN BIRDS 215 



vagrom habits and vehement disposition for which 

 its members are noted, and it is interesting to trace 

 in the smallest birds groups otherwise quite distinct 

 from that of the Titmice a restlessness and energy, 

 as well as a social habit and perching antics 

 so similar to those of the Titmice as rightly to be 

 described as tit-like. Thus the Goldfinch clambering 

 about its beloved thistle; the Siskin and Redpolls 

 with their even more eccentric posturings at the 

 twig-ends, are conforming not outwardly alone with 

 the behaviour of the Tits, but exhibit a tit-like vola- 

 tility, vivacity, and intensity of temperament quite 

 foreign to the larger members of the numerous Finch 

 family to which they belong, 



Indeed, smallness in birds appears to be accom- 

 panied not only by a narrower range of apprehension, 

 but also by an excessive energy, which is, perhaps, 

 too generally regarded as a function of mere size. 

 For, one is disposed to find it natural that such small 

 creatures should be of mercurial activity, just as the 

 smaller mammals, fishes, and insects, afford as a rule 

 more frequent displays of energy than larger ones. 

 But this is only to restate the case, not to explain 

 the cause. The difference between small and large 

 birds in their modes of expending energy lies in the 

 all but absolute spontaneity of the action of the 

 former. They seem to convey, without being able 

 to control, a current that expends itself in minute, 

 incessant sparkings ; whilst those rarer outbursts of 

 intense energy in the larger kinds issue as the 

 products of accumulation released of set purpose. 

 Thus the ceaseless activities of small birds are not 

 unlike the rompings of children an overflow of 



