OF BIRDS. 
161 
under it, or in fome hole in the wall. As Toon 
as he, comes out, he trifles amongft the thick 
branches of the neighbouring bufhes, always, 
railing his little tail. 
His flight is quick, and irregular, and he flaps 
his little wings fo rapidly that you do not tee their 
motion. 
He preferves all his gaiety during the cold and 
gloomy fejfon of winter, and fings his little lively 
fong, in which, notes, like the words ftderiti , 
fideriti , are often repeated, with more than ufual 
animation and pcrfeverance, when the falling 
fnows and chilling cold feem to make all nature 
filent and torpid. 
that feafon he frequents our court-yards, 
particularly the wood houfes, feeking amongft 
the fticks and under the banks, under the roofs 
of our outhoufes, in holes of walls, and even in 
the mouths of wells, the chryfalids, and the dead 
bodies of infe&s. He frequents the frdes of 
ftreams that do not freeze, retiring occafionally 
into the hollow parts of decayed trees, where 
twenty have been found crouded together. 
Although they are neither Ihy, nor timid, they 
are not eafily taken ; they are fo nimble, and fo 
mall, that they elude the attempts of their cn- 
nemics. 
In 
