32 IN BIRD-LAND 



which aroused a flock of Wood-Pigeons from their 

 sleep, and these at once whirled away in a circle, 

 their wings making a considerable commotion. In 

 the corner of the wood was seen the roosting-place 

 of numbers of Starlings, which flew away in parties 

 of thirty or forty, all loudly chattering in indigna- 

 tion at being so suddenly awakened. 



The eastern horizon was rapidly becoming 

 brighter, and a few snatches of a Thrush's song 

 could be heard welcoming the sun's rising ; the 

 Missel-Thrushes were also early at work, and were 

 calling and responding eagerly as we passed their 

 nearly finished nests. A great chorus of cawing 

 Rooks betokened that we were near a Rookery ; a 

 few pairs had already been seen flying towards 

 their distant feeding-grounds. The instant we 

 appeared underneath their nests a trusty sentinel 

 gave a note of alarm, and the whole company 

 perhaps two hundred in all rose in a body, the 

 noise being deafening. Their loud cawing, com- 

 bined with the rushing sound of their wings, made 

 up a noise of interesting confusion ; they circled 

 round in ever-widening rings until they reached a 

 great height, when they dispersed, some going to 

 their feeding-grounds, while others returned to 

 their nests. 



Yet a few remained flying round and round 



