82 FRESH WOODS. 



"father" just now, because I fancied this 

 was the male bird from his dark colour and 

 handsome slim proportions ; the female I 

 take to be a little more dumpy in form and 

 lighter in colour. 



Gilbert White tells us that the song thrush 

 (turdus simplidter dictu} begins to sing in 

 February and sings on into August. If that 

 is so, I hope to hear my thrushes for a few 

 weeks yet, but I have noticed that for the 

 last few days their song has been heard only 

 very rarely ; it has given place in a great 

 measure to the cheery chirpy little garden- 

 warbler, which has one or two notes almost 

 as loud and clear as the thrush's ; and for a 

 week past he has exercised his vocal organs 

 almost incessantly from four o'clock in the 

 morning until late at night ; but what a shy 

 little fellow he is he cannot bear to be 

 looked at. 



Birds are my garden pets ; now for a few 

 words about my garden nuisances cats. 



On two or three occasions during the past 

 week, when all had retired to bed but myself, 

 and while I was sitting in my library, I had 

 heard a very feeble squeak. I made diligent 

 search in every corner, and in the adjoining 

 rooms, without discovering anything ; at last 

 I found a closet door, which on being moved 



