CH. XXIX. FALCONS. 145 



qud non. In large and extensive tracts of wood, 

 where there are miles of unbroken forest, birds 

 are always rare, excepting indeed some of the far- 

 wandering hawks, whose strong wings enable them 

 to pass over miles of country with little exertion. 

 Even birds of prey are more inclined to take up 

 their abode near the outskirts of a wood than in 

 its densest solitudes. 



In winter large flocks of the long-tailed titmouse, 

 the golden-crested wren, and other birds of similar 

 insect-searching habits, flit from tree to tree, passing, 

 in an unbroken multitude for hours together, hang- 

 ing in every possible attitude from the branches 

 while searching for their minute prey, and enliven- 

 ing the solitude with their bright wings, and with 

 their merry chirp, so expressive of pleasure, as they 

 flutter from tree to tree. I believe that all wild- 

 birds live in a state of constant enjoyment when 

 unmolested by animals of prey, biped or quadruped, 

 and even then their terror or pain is but of short 

 duration, having no anticipation of the coming- 

 evil, or much remembrance of it if fortunately they 

 escape. The snows of winter sometimes indeed 

 shut up their sources of food ; but it is rare, at 

 least in this country, that plenty of open ground 

 is not left for the wants of all the wild animals. 



The falcon at earliest daybreak, after enjoying 

 VOL. II. l 



