THE WAYS OF BIRDS. 135 



captivate them ; they are as much your own as if 

 behind prison bars, and infinitely more interesting 

 and instructive than if moping in captivity. The 

 Kestrel that floats and flutters in boundless 

 freedom over the summer woods and fields, the 

 Sparrowhawk that shoots like a bolt along the 

 hedgerows in the dusk of evening, are as much 

 your own as if they languished in a cage ; you 

 may see them, study their ways, and enjoy their 

 society, better, infinitely better, than if you were to 

 take their liberty away. The Skylark that soars 

 beyond our vision to the clouds will come clown 

 again to earth. Cage this sweet songster, and the 

 very best part of all his melody is lost ; he is 

 yours just as much among the clouds as though 

 you doomed him to captivity. He will sing to 

 you, and follow all his accustomed habits, and 

 perform the functions allotted to him by Nature, 

 provided you are careful not to molest or frighten 

 him. The loving patient study of the ways of 

 birds leads you into their confidence, and enables 

 you to understand their ever-varying habits and 

 movements. 



As in the human species, various emotions of 

 birds are expressed by their voice ; consequently 

 it is of the highest importance that the naturalist 

 should make himself familiar with their several 

 cries and songs, so that he may understand the 

 meaning they are intended to convey. The ques- 

 tion naturally arises : Can birds converse ? Can 

 they communicate to each other their wants and 



