AFTER THE SNOWSTORM. 217 



places in the evergreens, and as they fly startled away 

 big masses of snow fall softly to the ground. 



The shrubbery in winter time is the chosen haunt 

 of birds, and they may be seen or heard on every 

 side. Day is now breaking. The sun is rising in a 

 blue and cloudless sky, giving every promise of a bright 

 day after the storm. Birds are waking up, doubtless 

 surprised at the sudden change in the appearance of 

 the landscape. The noisy Blackbirds hurry to and 

 fro, uttering their shrill and startling notes ; Redwings 

 are hopping from the yew bushes, and preparing for 

 their usual flight to the fields. These birds are not 

 very partial to berries, and to them a snowstorm means 

 .privation, hunger, and death. They will soon be off to 

 the higher fields where the snow has been driven by, or 

 to the manure-heaps and the swampy meadows, where 

 a scanty meal can by chance be found. On every side 

 birds may now be noticed. Here a merry little party 

 of long-tailed Titmice are just setting out on their daily 

 wanderings along the hedgerows and through the 

 woods ; there the Chaffinches are calling lustily from 

 the hollies, and the low pipe of the Bullfinch sounds 

 sweetly from the thicket; yonder tree-top is full of 

 Bramblings, and their subdued twittering notes are like 

 the tinkle of tiny bells. Now and then a party of 

 Fieldfares hurry away in a straggling manner, sak-sak- 

 ing as they go ; and a wandering wary Missel-thrush 



