36 Oxford: Spring and Early Summer. 



and Redwings, the Grey Wagtail, and the rarer 

 visitors : and of these the Fieldfares and Red- 

 wings are the only true winter birds. They 

 come from the north and east in September and 

 October, and depart again in March and April. 

 When we begin our Summer Term not one is to 

 be seen. The berries in the meadow are all 

 eaten up long before Lent Term is over, and 

 though these are not entirely or even chiefly the 

 Redwing's food, the birds have generally disap- 

 peared with them. 



They do not however leave the country dis- 

 tricts till later. When wild birds like these come 

 into a town, the cause is almost certain to be 

 stress of weather ; when the winter's back is 

 broken, they return to the fields and hedges till 

 the approach of summer calls them northwards. 

 There they assemble together in immense flocks, 

 showing all the restlessness and excitement of 

 the smaller birds that leave us in the autumn ; 

 suddenly the whole mass rises and departs like 

 a cloud. Accounts are always forthcoming of the 

 departure of summer migrants, and especially of 

 the Swallows and Martins, and there are few who 



