384 
APPENDIX. 
soon over ; I stood for a while perfectly still against the trunk of 
a tree, quite forgetting the cold while listening to the chattering 
and twittering of the birds, as in small flocks they once more 
descended to the sheltering branches of the laurels. In less than 
a quarter of an hour all was as silent as before, and I could not 
help remarking how peaceably and contentedly the poor sleepy birds 
took their places for the night, scarcely a sound being heard after 
the first few minutes. Sparrows would have behaved differently ; 
they would have pecked and bitten one another, and have kept the 
whole neighbourhood in an uproar for half an hour or more, while 
they noisily squabbled about who had the largest share of the bed. 
1855 . — March 1, Thursday. — Changeable. 
297a. Bramblings still continue to roost in the evergreens. 
Their manner of assembling in the evening is rather curious. To- 
wards sunset, one or two come into the garden, and alight upon the 
topmost twigs of the highest trees, where they are continually joined 
by others from all parts of the valley, until at last, a considerable 
number being collected, they all fly off to some sycamores close to 
the Portugal laurels. They then send off several parties, consisting 
of about a dozen each, and these, flying rather high, go dashing over 
the valley in various directions, sometimes settling in the trees, and 
adding to their numbers continually from the small straggling 
groups which are plentifully scattered about the fields and elsewhere. 
One by one the flocks return to the garden, and when the sun dis- 
appears the whole of the birds descend with very little noise or confu- 
sion to the shrubs below, and there, crowding close together, soon fall 
asleep. I have often and often watched these manoeuvres, and 
invariably have observed that the number of small flocks sent off 
from the main body never corresponds with those which return. 
I always see Chaffinches and Greenfinches with them, and now 
and then a few Goldfinches. 
h. First Eecorded Nesting of tee Eedwing in Britain. 
May 12, Saturday . — Fine and warm. 
641a. About ten o’clock this morning, as I turned aside the 
branches of a tall bay tree in searching for nests, a bird, which I 
thought from the mere glimpse I obtained of it was a Thrush, flew 
out and went in the direction of the meadow. Immediately after- 
