n8 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



that has ceased for some time : although March 

 came in, as the old folks say, like a lion, he is just 

 now going out like a lamb. Some quibbling is 

 raised at times, over matters concerning bird-life, 

 that any farmer's lad would laugh at, all owing to 

 folks forgetting that the weather varies so much 

 in different localities. Some favoured spots in our 

 southern counties are visited by migrants weeks 

 before these are popularly supposed to be on flight. 

 They come to this long sheltered hollow in the 

 hill-top; so do the rooks. Father rook has done 

 showing off: he does not throw his tail up over 

 his back, droop his wings, and softly cackle as he 

 presents some choice morsel to the object of his 

 affections ; for his courting time is over, and now 

 he has his mate to provide for as she sits closely 

 on her nest. Soft days in March are not to be 

 trusted ; we have repeatedly seen the hen rooks 

 sitting, covered with snow, with the cock birds 

 roosting close by the side of them. They do talk to 

 one another then most eloquently : the rook is de- 

 voted to his mate ; he works and slaves hard for her, 

 from morning to night. 



A storm of snow or hail does not kill the young, 



