CHAPTER VII. 



TITMICE — SHRIKES. 



There are several of our birds which, without 

 being good singers, add some share to the melody, 

 and much to the life which, in spring-time, is so 

 cliaracteristic of the woods of our island. Such 

 are the cuckoo and the dove, whose monotonous 

 tones are pleasing from their association with 

 nature and with spring. Such is tlie loud note 

 of the nuthatch, which utters its cry of " guiree, 

 guirce, guiree," as it runs along the boughs of the 

 trees, or rejoices in the kernel which its strong 

 bill lias just enabled it to extract from the sliell. 

 Such, too, is the cry of the fly-catcher, whicli, 

 though the bird is no singer, has a chirp of joy 

 and triumph, as it darts from its post to capture 

 the passing insect, and bring it down for its meal. 

 These are among the notes of the woodland, 

 which, though not in themselves strictly musical, 

 P 



