100 BIRDS AND MAN 



and round, when not in a hurry progresses by 

 means of comparatively slow, measured wing-beats, 

 and looks as if swimming rather than flying. 



It is when the gathered birds all finally settle on 

 a tree that they are most to be admired. They 

 will sometimes remain on the spot for half an hour 

 or longer, displaying their graces and emitting 

 the extraordinary medley of noises mixed with 

 musical sounds. But they do not often sit still 

 at such times ; if there are many birds, and the 

 excitement is great, some of them are perpetually 

 moving, jumping and flitting from branch to branch, 

 and springing into the air to wheel round or pass 

 over the tree, all apparently intent on showing 

 off then- various colours vinaceous brown, sky 

 blue, velvet black, and glistening white to the 

 best advantage. 



Again and again, when watching these gather- 

 ings at Savernake and at other places where jays 

 abound, I have been reminded of the description 

 given by Alfred Russel Wallace of the bird of 

 paradise assemblies in the Malayan region. Our 

 jay in some ways resembles his glorious Eastern 

 relation ; and although his lustre is so much less, 

 he is at his very best not altogether unworthy of 

 being called the British Bird of Paradise. 



