Birds of Britain 



be up and away long before the bird-catcher is near them. 

 In October they become restless, and many wander to the 

 coast, and thence to other countries, their place being taken 

 by the inhabitants of more northerly climates. So the 

 months pass, until a northerly gale and severe frost moves 

 even these hardy northerners, and at such times they may 

 be seen migrating in millions (for they travel almost entirely 

 by day), relentlessly pursuing a southerly course in front of 

 the biting norther. "With a change of wind and temperature 

 a large number will drift back again, but the movement will 

 not be so noticeable, and thus they pass their lives, wandering 

 wherever the weather and food may dictate, till in the very 

 early days of spring, or even on fine days throughout the 

 winter, we may hear their voluble song, breathing as it does 

 the joy of freedom in every note. This is almost always 

 uttered on the wing. Springing from the ground with rapid, 

 fluttering wings, he rises perpendicularly higher and higher 

 till he is almost lost to sight in the clouds, though his song 

 still drifts down to us with unaffected clearness ; higher and 

 higher he goes, and then in a spiral curve he slowly descends, 

 the song ceasing as he reaches a spot within a few feet of 

 where he rose. 



Nest-building is begun in April, and several broods are 

 reared in a season, the song being continued except when he 

 is actually feeding young in the nest. 



The adult has the general plumage of a warm brownish 

 tint, mottled and streaked with a darker shade. There is a 

 light-coloured superciliary streak. The chin, throat, and 

 upper breast and flanks are brownish buff streaked with 

 brown, rest of under parts yellowish white. The sexes are 



168 



