XXL 



BERRIES AND BIRDS. 



Now that the frosts have fairly set in, and insect life 

 for the most part has vanished, those birds sufficiently 

 hardy of constitution to brave a northern winter, draw 

 their chief supplies of food from the various berry- 

 bearing trees and shrubs. Nearly all our insectivorous 

 birds have hurried away to the Mediterranean and 

 Africa ; the fields and woods are almost deserted, save 

 by flocks of Finches and Larks and companies of 

 Titmice. Here and there in the lanes the dainty 

 Robin sits and warbles his winter anthem ; but most of 

 these birds have drawn near the dwellings of man for 

 the winter, whilst the hedgerows are made glad with the 

 Wren's loud and merry song. Everything begins to have 

 a very dismal and cheerless appearance, and as the 

 winter days come on apace, many of our feathered 

 friends will obtain their chief supply of food from the 

 various berries that now hang in clusters in the 

 shrubberies and hedges. 



One of the most favourite berries with the birds is the 



