350 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



more free than the music of birds elsewhere. Thus he 

 who loves to cultivate the evergreen on his domains, 

 and molests not the feathered tribes encouraged by the 

 seclusion and retirement offered to them that flock so 

 freely to his shrubberies, will seldom fail to have abun- 

 dance of bird music around him, be the. weather never so 

 unpropitious or the season unfavourable for bird melody ; 

 and as the vernal year approaches he will hear the love 

 song of the Bunting and Chaffinch and other birds long 

 before they dare commence in more exposed situations. 

 Pause, gentle reader, let imagination captivate thee 

 for a brief period, and accompany me this cold and 

 cheerless January evening into a dense and well-stocked 

 shrubbery. The notes of the feathered tribes are 

 sounding in all directions. Perched on a stately tree, 

 the Stormcock is giving forth his powerful notes, notes 

 which, although slightly monotonous, still never pall. 

 There a Cole Titmouse is uttering harsh and grating cries 

 as it searches the evergreens for stray insects ; while 

 Robins in all directions are pouring forth their tuneful 

 melody. A Song-thrush from yonder towering holly is 

 piping his mellow notes in all his varied splendour. Little 

 Wrens are noisy too ; the sprightly Chaffinch, noisy Black- 

 bird, and yelping Redwing also swell the concert with 

 their notes. As night approaches the scene becomes 

 much more animated ; on every side our feathered friends 

 are seen, and their varied notes fill the air with pleasing 

 sounds. The sun is just sinking behind the western hills 

 in an ethereal sea of gold, and instinct prompts the 

 birds to seek out their roosting places. All is now 

 silent, save the yelping call of the Redwing and the 

 sharp call notes of the Robin and Wren. Ever and 

 anon a Thrush is seen darting downwards into the 

 dense and friendly shelter of the yew or holly, while 



