168 MISSEL THETJSH. 



beginning of the year; even in January, in some seasons, in 

 the southern counties, and in February and March in the 

 more northern ones. The male bird ceases his song while 

 the nest is being made, and during the incubation of the 

 eggs, nor is it again heard till the following year, unless 

 indeed the hen or the young be destro}^ed, in which case it 

 is resumed or continued. The song is continuous, lasting 

 from two to five minutes at a time; a pause then intervenes 

 of longer or shorter duration, generally of two or three 

 minutes, after which it is again taken up. In one instance 

 it has been heard for fully ten minutes without cessation. 

 Perched on the topmost bough of some tall tree that quivers 

 to the blast, and heralding, or bidding as it were defiance 

 to the boding gale of wind, the Storm-cock whistles his 

 wonted lay, and gains from the observant countryman his 

 well-earned name. Other birds retire 'with bated breath' to 

 the shelter of the lowly grove, or the humble hedge, but he 

 braves the tempest out, and sings his song with jJEolus 

 himself. This species has sometimes been heard to sing when 

 on the wing, but this is not its usual practice. Its ordinary 

 note is a harsh scream, which when flying off after being 

 disturbed, it is often heard to utter, as well as when attacking 

 some other bird. 



Preparations for the nest begin very early. Building has 

 been observed to have been commenced on the 3rd. and the 

 5th. of April, and nests with eggs have been found on the 

 6th. and 7th. of that month, as also at the same place so 

 late as the 26th. of May in the same year. 



The nest, which is a loose structure, is a compilation of 

 twigs, small sticks, straws, grasses, leaves, lichens, wool, or 

 mosses, compacted inwardly with mud, mixed with grasses 

 and small roots, and lined with finer grasses, roots, and moss, 

 frequently with grass alone; sometimes the outside is partly 

 covered with lichens and mosses. The width is about four 

 inches and a half, the depth two and three fourths, and the 

 thickness of the sides an inch and three quarters. Mr. 

 Hewitson mentions one nest of which the foundation was of 

 mud, strongly cemented to, and nearly encircling the branches 

 between which it was fixed. It is often placed in very 

 exposed situations in the hollow caused by the divergence of 

 the branches from the trunk, at a height of ten or fifteen 

 feet from the ground, but nevertheless the erection of it has 

 often not been observed until after it has been fully completed. 



