60 BIRD NOTES 



notice of me at all. Two of them nearly flew into 

 my face the other day. I was watching them as 

 they flew swiftly in and out among the plants and 

 vegetables in the kitchen garden, and was wonder- 

 ing how they managed to keep so exactly within 

 about a foot of each other, when a sudden turn 

 brought them so directly upon me, and so close, 

 that I involuntarily drew back and shut my mouth 

 lest I should swallow them ! Several times they 

 have flown almost as near me ; and several times 

 one has flown against the window or fluttered 

 before it, trying to get a fly on the other side. 



I conclude that they find it is becoming very 

 difficult to get a living, and that they will soon be 

 gone. I love the little chiffchaffs, and shall be 



right sorry to lose them. 



October 8, 1882. 



I have learnt two things lately concerning 

 birds. The first is that rooks know Sundays from 

 week days ; and the second is that they are very 

 fond of walnuts. 



I fancy that all birds know Sunday ; at least I 

 have often been struck when taking a walk during 

 the time of Morning Service going to rooks' 

 church as it were with the unmistakable fact 

 that more and rarer birds were to be seen than 

 usual, and that they were more at their ease. 



With regard to rooks I am now quite convinced 



