PERCHING BIRDS. 119 



were busily occupied in extracting the seeds from the 

 berries of a group of alders in Rufford Park. I was 

 riding near the trees when my attention was attracted 

 by the birds rising from them. The action was a most 

 singular one, for so simultaneous was the flight of the 

 flocl^, and so exactly alike was the movement of each 

 individual composing it, that it was just as if all were 

 regulated by one will instead of many. In this compact 

 phalanx they wheeled about for a few turns, uttering at 

 the same time a shrill twitter, and again alighted on the 

 trees and commenced feeding, suffering me to approach 

 within half a dozen yards of them, and at this distance 

 I watched them carefully with extreme pleasure. 



While engaged in picking the seeds from the alder 

 berries, they clung in every imaginable or unimaginable 

 position, exactly like the blue titmice, of which they 

 strongly reminded me, and, like that species, hanging 

 with the back downwards as often as otherwise. After 

 observing them for some time, I roused them from their 

 employment with a stone, being curious to witness again 

 their beautiful evolutions, which were performed exactly 

 as before ; they did not seem at all alarmed at my inter- 

 ference, but again descended en masse, and recommenced 

 their occupation. 



I spent some time in close observation of their habits, 

 exhibited under such favourable circumstances, and was 

 the more interested, from this being the first time I had 

 seen them in a state of nature. I am sure that no one 

 who had only seen the siskin in a cage Would conceive 

 the ease and grace of its movements, and its extreme 

 activity when in freedom. I should like to have secured 

 a few specimens, but had not the heart to fire a gun 

 at the pretty little creatures, when a single discharge 



