2,6 Summer Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



it was really this, rather than the chance of finding 

 his nest, which caused me to give him such close 

 attention. This must, I think, be a sign of age, 

 though I have not seen it alluded to in books; I 

 have noticed it once or twice in other individuals, 

 but never so distinctly as in this one. This bird had 

 also another peculiarity : he had invented a variation 

 on the regular song of his species, consisting of two 

 introductory notes, which even Anderegg was sure 

 he had never heard before. 



There is a ridge of grassy limestone rock border- 

 ing the alp to the east, which gives one a splendid 

 position for scanning the tops of the pine-trees in 

 the valley below. Citril Finches and Crossbills will 

 sometimes show themselves here, and you can hardly 

 ever fail to see a Nutcracker. This is a very rare 

 bird at home, but you soon meet with him in Conti- 

 nental pine-woods. He is not unlike a large Starling, 

 and does indeed belong to the family of the Crows — 

 a relationship betrayed by his odd, uncanny ways. 

 I have seen him sitting on the top of a pine, croaking 

 like a small Eaven, and looking quite fiendishly know- 

 ing. Mr. Howard Saunders noted the same charac- 

 teristic in him, and while watching one disposing of 

 nuts in the autumn, was irresistibly reminded of 

 Punch dealing with his enemies in the show.'' He 

 descends in the autumn from the pines to the hazels, 

 1 lUs, 1891, p. 174. 



