70 BIRD NOTES 



CHAPTER VI 



1883 



THE year begins wet and warm as the last did. 

 The thrush sings in the dawn of the morning 

 almost as if it were February, and I have heard 

 the note of the greater titmouse. 



The birds at the window are in an extra- 

 ordinary state of friskiness and flightiness. There 

 has been a third cole tit of late ; very small and 

 thin and much afraid of the others. They did 

 their best from the first to chase it away ; but it 

 comes still, and is not now afraid of the bacon, as 

 it was at first. 



The cole tits take away a large part of the 

 bacon ; it is impossible that they can eat it all, 

 and so speedily. I suppose the other birds get it 

 from them. They have no fear of me at all 

 through the window, and come fluttering down 

 directly I make my appearance in the morning. 

 One drops down into the middle of the plate with- 

 out even the ceremony of looking to see if I am 

 there or not, and carries off great bits, or packets 



