6o ORGANS OF VOICE. 



guage there can be little doubt. In fact, a common observer 

 may, in some instances, understand their different notes, and 

 all their different wants and emotions, as well as the birds 

 themselves do. 



Thus while walking in a wood, if we happen to get sight 

 of a flock of Jays before they chance to notice our approach- 

 ing, they will be seen enjoying themselves and chattering in 

 seeming confusion. Suddenly one will be heard to utter a 

 peculiar short deeper-toned note, when in an instant all is 

 silent, and they may be seen skulking off one by one, only to 

 be heard again when they have sheltered themselves at a con- 

 siderable distance. Crows and Fieldfares, with many others 

 of what are called congregating birds, or those that live to- 

 gether, act in the same manner. Every sportsman knows how 

 difficult it is to get within gunshot of a large flock of these 

 birds, though they appear to be so busily employed in picking 

 up their food in a meadow, that it might be supposed they saw 

 nothing else. 



The fact is, they very often do see nothing, and think of 

 nothing, beyond the food they are in search of; because, on 

 the bough of some neighbouring tree, a good look-out is kept 

 by one of the party, and the moment the sentinel Crow, or 

 Rook, gives out his well-known caw of alarm, or the Fieldfare 

 its peculiar jarring cry, away go the main body beyond the 

 reach of the fowler, who thought he could escape observation, 

 by lurking behind a tree, or stealing behind a hedge bank. A 

 person familiar with the notes of birds has no difficulty what- 

 ever in distinguishing between the sounds of pleasure and 

 alarm. If he hears the Swallows screaming in a certain note, 

 he is as well aware that cats or Hawks are about, as if they 

 could tell him so in common language. We once happened to 

 hear a loud outcry amongst a parcel of Sparrows, Tomtits, and 

 Chaffinches ; the noise was evidently not their usual note of 

 pleasure, neither was it the clamorous scream they utter when 

 fighting. The bustle occurred within a yard of our window, 

 too near for a Hawk to venture ; neither was there a cat within 

 fcight, — nothing of the sort; but still the din increased, and 



