THE GOLDFINCH DORMITORY 



was completely shielded from rough weather by a 

 branch just above, which formed a roof. A snugger 

 dormitory for a party of little birds could not be. 

 These " gold-winged exquisites " kept their secret 

 well. I had peered into the tree many times for 

 nests I must have glanced at the very branch that 

 held the treasure yet only in the end by chance 

 discovered it by the tiny sparkling eye that met 

 mine. So the goldfinches had not forsaken their 

 yew, as I thought, but merely changed their lodging 

 from the shorn side to an untouched branch facing 

 north. 



Battle of the Birds 



The speed which even the rook can command is 

 well shown in its combat with windhover or sparrow- 

 hawk. I say " even," for the rook, in common- 

 place flight, gives us no notion of a rare power of 

 pace. It is cumbrous, it labours on the wing com- 

 pared with many other birds. So does the carrion 

 crow. Both assault the hawks, often with rage and 

 persistence. A correspondent gave me an account 

 of battles between crows and windhovers at Niton. 

 The crow would make straight for the windhover, 

 and the two birds would swing into the heights, 

 striving apparently to get one above the other, so as 

 to strike with effect. The windhover, uttering cries 

 of distress or anger, was driven off by the crow, 



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