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nest was half-full of water, tlie result of a heavy rain 

 the previous day. The young Thrushes (which were 

 four in number) were in a wretched plight, and suffered 

 from crarap some few weeks after. 



By Mrs. E. Warrrn Vernon. 



How often does one read of the " Silence of the 

 woods." Let us go into one, and sitting down, rest 

 quietly, and listen. From the nearest tree first a cock 

 Chaffinch shouts his rather monotonous song of love, 

 only varied by a very shrilly uttered " Pink pink," to 

 attract his mate's attention. 



Tomtits call to each other to join in the hunt of 

 the juicy, green caterpillar, and the still more delec- 

 table green fly, their little hearts delight in, scolding 

 angrily every now and then. 



Soon a Woodpecker will begin to tap the bark of 

 some favoured tree, and the common Flycatcher will 

 sing his most irresponsible of songs, " Chiff chiff chiffy 

 chiS" chiffy," flying without stopping his music, from 

 the branch over the pond to catch an unsuspecting fly. 



Then sometimes a half-dozen Goldfinches will 

 alight, fighting among themselves and hunting for seeds 

 in the topmost boughs, their well known " Sippet- 

 sippet " adding to the already musical chorus, and the 

 lovely gold in their wings shining brightly among the 

 leaves, as they fly from tree to tree. 



From the reeds comes the calls of Willow Wrens, 

 Warblers, Buntings, and below the voice of the Moor- 

 hen, calling her brood together, for fear of that 

 dreaded enemy of all waterfowl, the pike. Tiie Coot 



