180 Om NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



back, it most probably died of the cold, or took its 

 flight to warmer regions." 



This bird is not a hardy one, and cannot well 

 bear the cold, so that it could have no chance if 

 turned adrift during the severe season. Doubtless 

 many of our resident birds must die of cold and 

 Imnger, whenever the winters are unusually rigor- 

 ous : yet it is seldom that we find their dead 

 remains. Now and then the body of a dead bird 

 lies among the leaves of the wood, or we sec a 

 few of the whitened bones which were its frame- 

 work ; but even this is not often. Probably when 

 the poor little creatures feel tlie benumbing in- 

 fluences of winter, they go away, moping and 

 dispirited, to some of the thickest recesses to die; 

 and no sooner has life quitted them, than beetles 

 and other Hviiig creatmx'S prey on their lx)dy, 

 and rid tlic earth of the nuisance which woukl 

 arise from decomposing carcases. 



The whinchat arrives in the south of Enghand 

 by the middle of April, and usually builds her 

 nest about a week or two later than the stonechat. 

 The nest is much like that of this bird, and is 

 formed of diy grass stalks and a little moss ; the 

 lining being made of finer grasses. It is usually 



