Birds by Land and Sea 



intelligible ; it is the joyous expression of joy, single 

 and unsophisticated. 



Bullfinches, too, were always to be seen feeding 

 in pairs red breast and grey snipping the young 

 buds from the trees. The pied wagtail also was 

 never absent from the road, and the young fat, 

 full-feathered, short-tailed birds were already flying, 

 and quite able to look after themselves. Great-tits 

 were frequently heard in the trees. The numerous 

 holes and chinks in the stone walls furnished both 

 blue-tits and coal-tits with nesting apartments. We 

 found many nests of the former in such situations, 

 besides noticing them high up in crannies of the 

 rock and in holes in the trees. The young of these 

 birds were fledged in all cases, and many families 

 were already out feeding in the trees. One needs 

 only to keep an attentive ear in order to discover 

 these nests in the wall, for the young ones maintain 

 a continuous chirping, and when one looks into the 

 hole, groups of expectant little blue-tits may be seen 

 peering out of the dark interior. Their parents, 

 too, contribute to the discovery of their nests by 

 their assiduity in attending their young. In and out 

 they dart with their beaks full of little green cater- 

 pillars, both of the old birds sometimes arriving 

 together at the nest, so that one has to stand by 

 while the other one gets rid of its burden. They 

 will " ping " at a loiterer by the nest with the most 

 transparent impatience, and as soon as he moves a 

 few yards aside, enter without more ado. 



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