WILDWOOD WAYS 



their wings, and they took no more notice 

 of me than if I had been a snowed-up 

 fence post or a pasture cedar. I tried to 

 count them, but it was not easy. They 

 seemed to twinkle from twig to twig like 

 wavelets in the sun, and though their garb 

 is sober their movements dazzle. Just as 

 I would get a group on a single tree nicely 

 tallied they flashed as one bird over to 

 another tree, and mingling with their fel- 

 lows there spoiled the count. I finally 

 estimated, rather roughly, that there were 

 three hundred of them, a half of a light 

 brigade of as merry fellows as I wish to 

 meet. They twittered jovially and music- 

 ally among themselves, and now and then 

 one essayed a little sotto voce song which 

 he never could finish because immediately 

 his mouth was full. 



Once or twice some inaudible order 

 seemed to thrill through the flock and they 

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