INTRODUCTION 5 



literally overflowing with song. The CIrl Bunting 

 is now in full song, so too are the Dipper, the Lesser 

 Redpole, the Linnet, and the Twite. Among the 

 resident birds that regain their song in April, mention 

 may be made of the Meadow Pipit. The songs of 

 our summer migrants may now be heard in rapidly- 

 increasing volume. The sweet-voiced Blackcap is 

 heard from the middle of the month onwards, so too 

 is the Willow Wren. During the last week of the 

 month we hear the Tree Pipit and the VVhItethroats, 

 and the glad welcome " song " of the Cuckoo re- 

 sounds once more from the old familiar woods. The 

 Goldcrest is again in full song ; whilst the same 

 may be said of the Wood- Lark and the Sky- Lark. 

 The Ring Ouzel has returned to the moorlands and 

 his wild lay is added to the general chorus. April is 

 undoubtedly a month of song, but the music of the 

 birds is by no means constant and complete ; one or 

 two singers have but lately arrived and are scarcely 

 in song ; but the voices of such birds as Thrushes, 

 Starlings, Finches and Larks are almost if not entirely 

 at their best. 



May is the one month of song predominant over 

 all the rest. One singer has vacated his place 

 entirely in the general orchestra (the Mistle-Thrush), 

 but all others seem as if they would absolutely dis- 

 solve in song. Each sweet singer of the woods and 

 fields is now in fullest voice. The various Warblers 

 make the thickets and hedges sweet with a volume 



