22 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



satisfied with a very few, such as the gallant Missel 

 Thrush, who seems to delight in braving the storm. 



The morning and the evening are the best times for 

 song. In the heat of the day many bird-voices are alto- 

 gether silent ; but in the evening they may be heard in 

 every suitable locality, yet not, I think, with the same 

 beauty and freshness as in the early morning, when, 

 unfortunately, there are so few to listen. At about 

 3 a.m. in May and June one can hear a babel of tuneful 

 voices, in which in Ireland the Blackbird's seems to be 

 the bass or ground tone, deeper and stronger than the 

 rest which float above it in the tender morning air. 



II. Walk out in quiet localities, with one or two 

 friends, not more ; avoid talking, if possible; and, instead 

 of roaming about, sit down quietly under some tree, and 

 wait for the birds to come to you, as in most cases they 

 will readily do. 



III. Bring a good field-glass with you ; this is invalu- 

 able, as you can then carefully study the birds without 

 the risk of disturbing them. 



IV. Look over gates and walls quietly. It was thus 

 I saw the Green Woodpecker for the first time near 

 Beaumaris. I had heard its strange cry " glu glu 

 gluck," but could not identify the bird, until, glancing 

 over a gate, I saw it sitting on a rail close by. As soon 

 as it saw that it was observed, it took flight. 



V. Note down your observations, no matter how un- 

 important they may seem to be, carefully preserving the 

 dates and localities ; these may lead to useful and 

 interesting discoveries afterwards. 



I have said that August is probably one of the mutest 

 months in the year. It would seem, however, from the 



