WARNING NOTES 39 



laughed at, and does not like it ; why should not 

 I know when I am being scolded by a golden- 

 crested wren, and feel it also ? I was very much 

 grieved ; the more so that the little thing flew 

 away afterwards, and left me lamenting. 



The warning note of any bird seems to be 

 understood by all ; at all events that of the robin 

 is, and being a watchful keen-sighted bird, with 

 a loud sharp cry, it often acts as watchman to the 

 others. I have frequently seen a bird that was 

 feeding quietly at the window, unaware of my 

 presence at the other side of it, turn sharply 

 round on hearing the warning note of the robin, 

 and look about for the danger ; but the bird, 

 especially if it is a blue tit, will not fly away till 

 it has itself seen the source of danger, and even 

 then, if very hungry, it will sometimes just turn 

 its back on me and go on feeding industriously. 

 Birds seem to fear danger less than fear itself ; 

 they do not like to be startled. And the little 

 birds' hearts beat so quickly ! Any one who has 

 ever taken one in his hand must know that ; they 

 seem all nerves. I watched a hungry little blue 

 tit the other day when the wind was shaking the 

 window, at every click the little thing started and 

 opened its wings, but it was not really afraid ; it 

 did not leave its crumbs. 



Birds faint easily I have heard was it faint- 



