HINTS TO ORMTHOLOGISTS. 357 



the harsh and discordant caws she utters when an in- 

 truder wanders under the tree which contains her home, 

 or when a Hawk is Hngering suspiciously near — can tell 

 in a moment when she is receiving food from her lovino- 

 partner, or simply calling to her sable kindred around 

 her. Again, when I hear the Chaffinch's sharp call 

 notes in the nesting season ringing out so anxiously, and 

 in quick succession, I know at once that some dire 

 calamity is threatening her little home, and I hasten to 

 assist her in repelling the disturber of her family cares. 

 I hear the inexpressibly low and sweet call notes of the 

 little Willow Warbler as she courses over a neighbouring 

 bush, clothed in the garb which May bequeaths, and I 

 know her home is not far away. Or sometimes the 

 Stormcock flits anxiously from tree to tree, uttering her 

 unmusical cries, and I am then aware her young are 

 near at hand. When the Blackbird gives forth his bold 

 call notes I know he has just been flushed, and is flying 

 ofi" to more secluded quarters ; for by my knowledge 

 previously gained I know he never utters these peculiar 

 notes save when on the wing and alarmed. I need not 

 enlarge upon this subject further, but will conclude by 

 saying that almost every bird with which I am acquainted 

 utters peculiar notes under certain circumstances, and I 

 will leave to the young ornithologist the pleasant task of 

 finding them out for himself 



A word as to the habits of birds. As the student 

 progresses in a knowledge of his subject he will be able, 

 when he sees a bird performing various motions, to tell 

 at once what the bird is engaged in. If he sees the 

 Kestrel hovering on quivering wing over the fields and 

 hedgerows in early summer, he will know that the bird is 

 searching for the mice in the meadow grass to supply its 

 hungry young with food. If he sees the Rooks flying 



