Birds in Frost. 245 



to so many of their neighbours are the long-tailed 

 tits, diminutive and tender-looking birds, yet 

 sufficiently hardy withal; and one of the prettiest 

 sights of winter is to see a family of these active 

 little birds flitting from tree to tree, and spray to 

 spray, in some wood or shrubbery, in their search 

 for food, uttering the while their cheerful little 

 call-notes. 



Londoners, at such times as these, find the 

 number of birds frequenting the parks and open 

 spaces immensely increased, and included in the 

 number are some which, in ordinary seasons, 

 certainly cannot be ranked among the birds of 

 London; for instance, throughout the present frost 

 a few skylarks have used the Thames Embank- 

 ment as a feeding-ground, while gulls do not 

 visit town in large numbers except during hard 

 weather. As an example of the increase in 

 numbers, large flocks of starlings have frequented 

 places where usually but a few are to be seen, rooks 

 have entered the suburbs in considerable numbers, 

 and blackbirds have penetrated much further into 

 town than is their custom in open weather. 



In conclusion, we would point out that a vast 

 amount of bird-misery may be saved, and a corre- 

 sponding amount of pleasure be gained, by any 

 one, possessed even of a small garden, who will 

 regularly, during time of frost, throw out scraps 

 from the table as a meal for the starving birds. 

 We say scraps advisedly, as many people feed their 

 bird-pensioners on crumbs of bread alone, either 



