SNOW BUNTINGS TOMTITS THRUSHES. 189 



CHAPTEK XXIII. 



NOVEMBER. 



The Snow Bunting Regularity of appearance Tomtit and Thrushes ; worthy 

 of protection The Water Ousel Trout Otters ; the defence of their 

 young Otter-hunting Hahits of Otters Seals ; power of remaining 

 under water; habits of; decrease of Wild Swans Plovers, &c. Dun 

 Divers Hares. 



NOVEMBER, month though it be of cold winds and sleet, is 

 generally ushered in by Hocks of that beautiful little bird 

 the snow bunting. For three successive years I have first 

 seen this winter visitor on the 1st of November, which is 

 another instance of the regularity of birds in their migrations. 

 Scarcely any two of the snow buntings are quite alike. In the 

 first flocks that come there are only a few which are light- 

 coloured, but as the snow and frost increase the white birds 

 become more numerous. I do not know whether they arrive 

 during the night, but I have constantly heard their note 

 after it has been quite dark, the birds being at the time on 

 wing ; and this sometimes occurs several hours after night- 

 fall. 



A beautiful little blue tomtit has taken up his abode vo- 

 luntarily in the drawing-room. It would seem that at first 

 he was attracted by the few house flies who at this season 

 crawl slowly about the windows. These he was most active 

 in searching for and catching, inserting his little bill into 

 every corner and crevice, and detecting every fly which had 

 escaped the brush of the housemaid. He soon, however, 

 with increased boldness, came down to pick up crumbs, 

 which the children placed for him close to me on the table. 

 From his activity and perseverance in exterminating flies, 

 this bird appears well worthy of protection. 



The thrushes, and blackbirds too, earn the favour of the 

 gardener by their constant destruction of snails, in search of 

 which, at this season, they are all day busily employed in 

 turning over the dead leaves under the garden walls, and at 

 the bottom of the hedges. My experience convinces me 

 that there are few of the common birds whose perseverance 

 in destroying grubs, caterpillars, &c., for at least nine months 

 of the year, does not amply repay the mischief done by them 

 in eating cherries and seeds during the remaining three. It 

 is difficult, however, to persuade the farmer to look on rooks 

 and wood-pigeons as his friends, when he sees them in flocks 

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