OCTOBER BIRD LIFE 



AUTUMN has been portrayed as a 

 of mists and mellow fruitfulness," and surely 

 it is an apt description. There is a haunting 

 sadness in the lingering beauty of October. 

 The wonderful glory of the autumnal foliage 

 reaches its height and the colours of the 

 woods seem to crown Nature's efforts ere 

 winter enfolds all things in her grasp. Once 

 again the birdlover knows the year is reach- 

 ing its close for October is, so to speak> the 

 " term time " of so many birds. 



Round our eaves in autumn, 



Swallows as they flit, 

 Give like yearly tenants 



Notices to quit. 



Already it is many weeks since the sand- 

 piper's plaintive and diminutive whistle was 

 heard on Tayside, whilst the swifts and 

 sand-martins have long since taken their 

 departure. The corn has been cut and the 

 G 97 



