FLOCKS OF BIRDS. 
309 
these weeds. There were goldfinches, blue-birds, sparrows, 
robins ; and perched in a tree, at no great distance, were several 
meadow-larks apparently attracted by the crowd, for they sat 
quietly looking on. Altogether there must have been several 
hundreds in the flock, for there were frequently six or eight 
hanging upon one thistle-stalk. Some were feeding busily ; others 
were flitting about, now on the fences, now in the road. It 
was a gay, pretty sight. We disturbed them, of course, passing 
in their midst ; but they did not seem much alarmed. Taking- 
flight, as we came close upon them, they alighted again on the 
rails and weeds, a few yards beyond, repeating over and over 
the same movement as we walked slowly on, until more than 
half the flock had actually accompanied us in this way a good 
piece of road, called near a quarter of a mile. They seemed 
half convinced that we meant no harm to them. As we reached 
the end of the lane and turned into the highway, some went back 
to their feast ; others, as it was near sunset, flew away in parties. 
The numbers of these autumn flocks vary very much with the 
seasons ; some years they are much more numerous than others. 
After a cold, late spring, we have comparatively few. Many 
birds at such times, probably, stop short on their spring journey, 
remaining farther south ; and others, alas ! are destroyed by a 
severe untimely frost. Not long since, early in the season, a 
large party of blue-birds arrived in the village. We watched them 
with much interest ; their brilliant plumage of silvery blue show- 
ing beautifully as they flitted about in the sunshine ; and added to 
their gentle, harmless character and pleasant note, this makes them 
very desirable birds to have about a house and on a lawn. We 
observed no less than three pnirs building under the eaves, at the 
