20 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



meal, and, judging from the clouds of insects hovering 

 near him, his wants will speedily be supplied. As we 

 stroll down this narrow lane the Redstart flits before us 

 from bush to bush, uttering his wrenlike song, while the 

 Wagtail greets us with his call notes as we cross the 

 murmuring rivulet. We now enter a coppice, and the 

 Stormcock flies round us with grating cries : her home 

 is here, and she is seeking to defend it. Now in our re- 

 turn journey we see a pair of Magpies, and hear the dis- 

 cordant call of the Jay ; while in yonder grass field near 

 the shrubbery numbers of Thrushes are seen searching 

 for worms and slugs. Observe them closely, and we find 

 the Blackbird elevates the tail upon alighting, while the 

 Song-thrush is never seen to do so. All look warily 

 around before feeding, and upon the slightest alarm fly 

 rapidly off into the shelter of the evergreens. The 

 Rooks are now feeding, and obtaining food for their sit- 

 ting mates or helpless young, in the pastures. Starlings 

 in their company are keeping up a noisy concert, many 

 of the males on the surrounding tree-tops warbling their 

 varied notes, with shaking quivering wings. The sun is 

 now well up in the heavens, and all birds are singing 

 their loudest. First come the noble family of Thrushes, 

 represented by the dulcet Blackbird and varied Thrush ; 

 the delicate sylvan songsters give forth their plaintive 

 notes ; while the Finches in all directions help to swell 

 the lovely concert — a concert in which, without close 

 attention, the songs of the many actors cannot be traced. 

 Amongst such a sea of melody we are apt to ponder 

 over the cause of it ; but it defies our every effort, and 

 we are obliged to rest content with listening to it and 

 enjoying its sweetness. The Corncrake is calling from 

 the meadow, and the late -rising Sparrows cluster round 

 the barns and ricks to seek their morning sustenance. 



