Northern Observations of Inland Birds yj 



sparrow she has a quiet, taking Httle way with her, while 

 the nests of these two are among the choicest works in 

 wild nature's gallery of art. 



The ways of the robin are so well known that, though 

 we may not omit mention of him here, little needs to 

 be said. He is unquestionably one of those creatures 

 sent to beautify God's earth, for both his colouring and 

 his sweet though cheerfully melancholy little song are 

 things for which we need to be glad. Robins sing the 

 whole year round, but in spring and summer their voices 

 are drowned in the general chorus of feathered songsters. 

 The robin, like the nightingale, is best loved for the 

 song that he sings when otherwise the woods are silent — 

 as precious as winter violets, though fortunately less rare. 



The little wren, as he noses about the dingy thickets, 

 is always the first to discover the owl lurking in its roosting 

 place, and to gather about him an indignant and excited 

 throng of which he is the boldest, knowing full well 

 that he is too small and nippy to be caught. Wrens are 

 sociable little birds, and seven or eight of them are often 

 to be found roosting together in a cranny no larger than 

 the inside of an orange. 



Insect-feeding birds depend enormously upon their 

 hearing for locating their food, and I believe that some 

 birds, such as the tree-creeper, find insects in the bark 

 by listening for them at their work. I have watched a 

 tree-creeper (and the same applies to the blue tit) listening 

 intently and adjusting his position round a certain point 

 till at length he came to a definite decision, and forthwith 

 began to tear away the outer covering of the tree, duly 

 to drag out a grub or some other atom of insect life. 



Blackbirds and thrushes can be seen at any time hunting 

 worms by listening for them. The bird hops a few paces, 

 then places his head on one side in an attitude of intent 

 listening. After a pause he hops forward another foot 



