XL 



THE BIRDS' FREE BREAKFAST 

 TABLE. 



No winter passes without some period, longer 

 or shorter, of storm or biting frost ; and these 

 tell with all the more severity on the feeble and 

 more delicate of our birds from their unex- 

 pected suddenness. On such a wintry morning 

 it is touching to see these little creatures show- 

 ing in attitude and demeanour how the rigour 

 of the weather is affecting them. The song- 

 thrush is the very first to feel the influence of 

 the cold blast, the iron ground impervious to its 

 bill, and its prey safely ensconced deep below 

 the frozen surface ; even the hardy robin looks 

 like a ball of fluff as he sits on a spray watching 

 with bead-like eyes for some charitable dole. 

 All nature seems tamed and subdued, the more 

 shy and retiring of our birds throwing off their 

 natural timidity and approaching our doors and 

 windows under the stress of cold and hunger, 

 Such appeals find doubtless ready response 

 133 



