2 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



months, tracing the commencement and gradual 

 increase of avine song and then its similar decline 

 — like the swelling melody from some stupendous 

 organ-pipes, beginning in low and fitful strains, then 

 rolling and swelling out in grand majestic cadence, 

 then fading away like the fainter and fainter vibra- 

 tions of an oft-repeated echo as the year completes 

 its course. 



In January the Mistle-Thrush is by far the most 

 prominent singer ; his loud carol may be heard each 

 day from the tall leafless trees, very often amidst 

 driving rain or sleet or the howling of the w^ind. 

 The Robin is the next chorister of importance, and 

 his cheery hope-inspiring strains are a daily promise 

 of better and warmer days in store. The Wren, too, 

 sings pretty generally throughout the first few weeks 

 of the opening year, but there are days in this month 

 when his voice may be hushed ; still more irregularly 

 does the Hedge Accentor warble. The days are at 

 present all too cheerless to woo him into constant 

 voice. Not so the Starling, for he is another chorister 

 that warbles freely during the entire month, although 

 his voice is somewhat constrained and fitful. Two 

 other birds deserve passing notice. They are the 

 Song Thrush and the Sky- Lark, for both may be 

 heard to sing, the former especially, but in the 

 southern counties chiefly. These half-dozen singers 

 relieve the monotony of one of the most dismal 

 months of the year j we might liken their music to 



