Character of Bivrd-Life. 5 
At first sight starlings seem more numerous ; but 
this arises from their habit of gathering together in 
such vast flocks, blackening the earth where they 
alight. But you may walk a whole day across the 
downs and still find larks everywhere ; so that though 
scattered abroad they probably equal or exceed the 
starlings, who show so much more. They are by no 
means timid, being but little disturbed here: you can 
get near enough to watch every motion, and if they 
tise it is only to sing. They never seem to know 
precisely where they are going to alight—as if, indeed, 
they were nervously particular and must find a clod 
that pleases them, picking and choosing with the 
greatest nicety. 
Many other birds exhibit a similar trait: instead 
of perching on the first branch, they hesitate, and 
daintily decline the bough not quite to their fancy. 
Blackbirds will cruise along the whole length of a 
hedge before finding a bush to their liking ; they look 
in several times ere finally deciding. "Woodpigeons 
will make straight for a tree, and slacken speed and 
show every sign of choosing it, and suddenly, without 
the slightest cause apparently, go half a mile farther. 
The partridge which you could vow had dropped just 
over the hedge has done no such thing ; just before 
touching the ground she has turned at right angles 
‘and gone fifty yards down it. 
The impression left after watching the motions of 
birds is that of extreme mobility—a life of perpetual 
