120 
BIItBS IN A VILLAGE. 
Closely related to this error is another error, which 
is that noise in itself is distressing to birds, and 
has the effect of driving them away. To all 
sounds and noises which are not associated with 
danger to them, birds are absolutely indifferent. 
The rumbling of vehicles, puflBng and shrieking of 
engines, and braying of brass bands, alarm them 
less than the slight popping of an air gun, where 
that modest weapon of destruction is frequently 
used against them. They have no "nerves" for 
noise, but the apparition of a small boy silently 
creeping along the hedge-side, in search of nests or 
throwing stones, is very terrifying to them. They 
fear not cattle and horses, however loud the bellow- 
ing may be ; and if we were to transport and set 
loose herds of long-necked cameleopards, trumpet- 
ing elephants, and rhinoceroses of horrible aspect, 
the little birds would soon fear them as little as 
they do the familiar cow. But they greatly fear 
the small-sized, quiet, unobtrusive, and meek- 
looking cat. Sparrows and starlings that fly 
wildly at the shout of a small boy or the bark of a 
fox-terrier, build their nests under every railway 
arch ; and the incubating bird sits on unalarmed 
amid the iron plates and girders when the express 
train rushes overhead, so close to her that one 
would imagine that the thunderous jarring noise 
would cause the poor thing to drop down dead 
