THE RETURN OF THE NATIVES. 65 



observation as is the habit of those birds. They 

 cling to the twigs and peer into the bursting buds, 

 not unHke the titmice, or fly down in the meadow 

 and go hopping along through the grass after the 

 manner of the sparrows. I know of no other bird 

 whose habits are so varied. When they attempt 

 longer flights, the course is zigzag, acting as if 

 confused, or like the erratic movements of a kite, 

 when falling to the ground. Oftentimes they 

 turn back again to the tree from which they 

 started, as though they had forgotten to inspect a 

 certain branch just then seen. This warbler is not 

 at all cautious or suspicious. A lack of shyness is 

 noticeable among birds that pass northward to 

 breed. This is the case with the white-throated 

 sparrows, which have lately arrived and are feed- 

 ing along the hillsides under the beeches and white 

 oaks. As you approach them, they merely perch 

 on the lower limbs, waiting patiently for you to go 

 on. Is this tameness due to the fact that people 

 in the countries, both North and South, where these 

 birds visit, do not molest them as does the in- 

 quiring Yankee ? And are they slow to learn by 

 experience that man is a more dangerous animal 

 than the cows or sheep among which they evidently 

 feel secure ? 



