AFTER THE SNOWSTORM. 219 



amongst the snow clinging to the prickly thistle heads 

 which rise high above the drift. How deftly they poise 

 on the big drooping heads with wings expanded, or 

 flutter along in up-and-down flight from stem to stem, 

 scattering the downy seeds in all directions. Others 

 visit the rich brown dock stems, dead and withered but 

 full of seed. Every now and then their musical weet- 

 weet sounds loud and clear, as they progress in a long 

 straggling party down the hedge-side. The beauty of 

 the Goldfinch is seen at its best in the snow. Then, as 

 we wander along the hedgerows, gay Yellow Buntings 

 and sombrely-dressed Accentors are sure to be seen, the 

 former high up on the bending twigs, the latter gliding 

 shadow-like through the tangled branches. The air 

 speaks eloquently of the confusion prevailing among 

 the birds which the sudden fall of snow has caused. 

 Now flocks of Larks, uttering their well-known call- 

 note, fly over, bound for districts where the fields are 

 free from snow ; then large parties of Redwings hasten 

 by to the land where manure is being spread, and to the 

 banks of rivers and streams. The berry and seed- 

 eating birds which obtain their supplies from the trees 

 and hedges, or from the tall weeds, are not incon- 

 venienced by the snow ; but all the ground-feeding 

 birds, and those that live on grass and clover seeds, are 

 soon compelled to leave the district of the storm. 

 The Chaffinches now leave the fields and visit 



