62 BIRD NOTES 



was it the expression of extreme anxiety ? of a 

 contest between their wish to get the nuts and 

 their fear of the proximity of the houses ? Pro- 

 bably the latter. Whatever it was, down they 

 came in a few minutes upon my poor little tree, 

 and I saw one huge creature trying by napping to 

 hold on to a top shoot from which he was attempt- 

 ing to twist a fine green pair of nuts. Great was 

 the row I made, and I frightened them away. I 

 did so again. Then I put on my bonnet and went 

 for a walk up the hill. I was away about an hour 

 perhaps rather more. When I came back every 

 walnut was gone, except one which they could not 

 reach, and one which they had dropped on the grass. 



I have long felt pretty sure that birds take their 

 pleasure, and enjoy an unwonted freedom of mind 

 during morning church-time, just as they always 

 do in the early morning, but I never had a more 

 striking proof of it than this. For I feel very sure 

 that no attack was made on my walnuts during 

 the week ; if there had been, I could not have 

 failed to notice it and to see its effects. 



The clusters were but few ; they were quite 

 near the window and I knew each one. I rather 

 expected to lose them all while I was away, and I 

 should have gathered them before going out but 

 that my longest rake would not reach high enough 

 to shake the bough. 



