WOODLAND SILENCE 99 



The woodland silence increases during July and 

 August, not only because the singing season is ended, 

 but also because the birds are leaving the woods : that 

 darkness and closeness which oppress us when we walk 

 in the deep shade is not congenial to them ; besides, 

 food is less plentiful than in the open places, where 

 the sun shines and the wind blows. 



Woods, again, vary greatly in character and the 

 degree of attractiveness they have for birds : the copse 

 and spinney keep a part of their population through 

 the hottest months; and coming to large woods the 

 oak is never oppressive like the beech and other 

 deciduous trees. It spreads its branches wide, and 

 has wide spaces which let in the light and air; grass 

 and undergrowth flourish beneath it, and, better than 

 all, it abounds hi bird food on its foliage above all irepa 



My favourite woods were almost entirely of oak with, 

 a holly undergrowth, and at some points o$k we?& 

 mixed with firs. They were never gloomy -nor s6 silent 

 as most woods; but in July, as a rule, one had' tb j l6ok J 

 for the birds, since they were no longer distributed 

 through the wood as in the spring and early summer, 

 but were congregated at certain points. 



Most persons are familiar with those companies of 

 small birds which form in woods in winter, composed of 

 tits of all species, with siskins, goldcrests, and some- 

 times other kinds. The July gatherings are larger, 

 include more species, and do not travel incessantly like 

 the winter companies. They are composed of families 



