A TRUCULENT TIT 93 



have discomposed them. At another time I saw 

 one robin taking lively leaps of a foot or two into 

 the air, apparently without the aid of its wings. 

 Another little trick transfigured, the bird so com- 

 pletely that I could not believe it to be the same 

 till it came up to the window afterwards quite its 

 old self. It had managed to make itself very small 

 and upright, with a high crest and a prominent 

 beard, which went on wagging about as the little 

 thing warbled very softly and rapidly, with wild 

 eyes directed towards the other robin. 



The blue tit that took up arms against the 

 others has appeared again of late in such a tiger- 

 like and malicious state of mind that I am 

 obliged to chase it away. How does the 

 creature do it ? It frightens them all even the 

 nuthatch, with whom it had a pitched battle 

 lately. It suddenly seems made of steel, and 

 looks as sharp as a spear-head ; then it crouches 

 like a tiger, and spreads its wings and rushes and 

 away goes any bird whatever, even my bold robin. 

 When I frighten it away from the window-sill it 

 attacks the birds that settle on the roses near. 

 The bird must be possessed by a devil of some 

 kind. The very expression of its face is savage, 

 and its attitudes are still more so. It moves its 

 head in a wiry, snake-like way that I never saw 

 in a bird before. 



