12 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



tree growing up from the hedge, projecting 

 through the foliage, and the bird, perched near its 

 end, sat only about five feet above the bare ground 

 of the lane. Now, I owe my best thanks to this 

 individual nightingale, for sharply calling to my 

 mind a common pestilent delusion, which I have 

 always hated, but had never yet raised my voice 

 against — namely, that all wild creatures exist in 

 constant fear of an attack from the numberless 

 subtle or powerful enemies that are always wait- 

 ing and watching for an opportunity to spring 

 upon and destroy them. The truth is, that al- 

 though their enemies be legion, and that every 

 day, and even several times on each day, they 

 may be threatened with destruction, they are 

 absolutely free from apprehension, except when 

 in the immediate presence of danger. Suspicious 

 they may be at times, and the suspicion may 

 cause them to remove themselves to a greater 

 distance from the object that excites it; but the 

 emotion is so slight, the action so almost auto- 

 matic, that the singing bird will fly to another 

 bush a dozen yards away, and at once resume 

 his interrupted song. Again, a bird will see the 

 deadliest enemy of its kind, and unless it be so 



