HABITS OF BIRDS, 21 



On the bosom of the still waters the Moorhens and Coots 

 plash about right heartily, and the Heron on one leg 

 appears in silent moody contemplation. As the sun 

 advances the birds cease their music and retire, and such 

 a delightful concert of bird music will not again be heard 

 until the sun has performed his daily tour through the 

 flaming zodiac, and arises once more in the eastern 

 heavens to usher in a future day. In the evening, how- 

 ever, the actions of the feathered tribes are ever full of 

 interest. 



The waning sun behoves us to set forth. The objects 

 of our quest betray their whereabouts by their music, 

 and although these little songsters have been heard in 

 small numbers throughout the day, still all now sing 

 their lovely evening notes. This noble shrubbery pre- 

 sents us with a great number of the little sons of Orpheus. 

 The Thrushes, from their powerful notes, come first be- 

 fore our notice. In yonder stately sycamore, just don- 

 ning its golden leaves, the Blackbird is pouring forth his 

 notes ; another on a lowly wall is assisting in the con- 

 cert. Song-thrushes from every tree are giving forth 

 their varied tones. As we pause for a {^\n moments 

 under this widespreading yew, Cock-Robin hops daintily 

 on to a neighbouring bough and greets us with a song ; 

 while down below him in the tangled ravine the Wren 

 gives forth his rambling notes. Our little friends the 

 Chaffinches, with their congener the Greenfinch, are 

 heard singing their loudest ; and the graceful Willow 

 Warbler in his journey over the forest trees in search of 

 insect food occasionally pauses to utter his plaintive 

 song. The active little blue Titmice in every conceiv- 

 able attitude are searching for their evening meal ; 

 while in the distance the bell-like notes of the Ox-eye 

 are heard ringing on the evening air. In the grass fields 



