BIRD LIFE, ETC. 187 



knows them to be so. The wind has ceased, and the 

 forest rests in solemn stillness. You can see far away 

 into the forest, between the stems, which are destitute 

 of branches to a great height. Here the ground is 

 covered with luxuriant tufts of heather in full bloom ; 

 there the stones are coated with moss and lichens ; and 

 on that low knoll the continuous verdure is due to the 

 yet fresh leaves of the Vacdnium myrtillus. Natural 

 History of Deeside, p. 178. 



33. MERRY-MAKING OF BIRDS. 



The sun sent a gleam of light through the Pass of 

 Ballater into the plain, and illumined the hill-tops on 

 the western side, while their shadows spread far over 

 the fields. The hill along the base of which I walked 

 is covered with pines, and, partly, opposite the village, 

 with birches. Great numbers of chaffinches flew along 

 from tree to tree, apparently enjoying the sunshine, 

 occasionally chasing each other, and engaging in mimic 

 conflicts. I was drawn into the wood by hearing a 

 singular chorus of many shrill voices in the trees, and, 

 looking up, observed a multitude of little birds of several 

 species frisking about in great glee. Most of them 

 were coal-tits, ringlets, blue tits, and willow-wrens ; but 

 there were also many chaffinches, and some common 

 linnets. Great numbers of ringlets occurred in other 

 parts of the wood. I was amused with the movements 

 of a pair of coal-tits, which separated from the rest, and 



