MOORLAND IDYLLS. 



me with a question, we have spread about 

 everywhere that grain will grow in Europe. 

 That's because we are bold, courageous 

 birds, not afraid of every passing object we 

 see, like the bluethroats and the creepers; 

 while at the same time we are cautious, 

 quick, eager, and wary, and get out of the 

 way of danger at a moment's notice. My 

 own opinion is that even in Europe we must 

 have been a mere handful of birds before 

 cultivation spread, and that since that time 

 we have pushed ourselves by our energy and 

 enterprise into a leading position. About 

 great cities alone, we may be reckoned by 

 our myriads ; and then, just look at our 

 colonial expansion ! " 



" You have emigrated largely, I believe," 

 I said, " to America and the Colonies ? " 



" Bless my soul, yes ; we have followed 

 European civilization almost everywhere. 

 We allow mankind to go ahead of us for 

 a few years, just to prepare the way, and 

 get our corn and oats into working order; 

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