THIRD DAY. 91 



many birds are destructive to fruit-trees 

 in bud as well as to ripe crops. 



J. I believe it is White, in his delight- 

 ful " History of Selborne," who remarks 

 that the thrush, the blackbird, the wood- 

 lark and the willow-wren, become silent 

 about Midsummer, and take up their song 

 again in September. He seems to think 

 that birds are then inclined to sing because 

 the temperature of spring and autumn is 

 about equal. 



S. His inference is a very natural one. 

 The robin is a very good illustration of 

 this, for he sings again in the autumn, even 

 when the lime-tree his favourite haunt 

 is denuded of its leaves. The wren's note 

 is often heard in winter time if it be not 

 frosty, and I have many times heard both 

 the lark and the thrush singing delightfully 

 on a warm day in January. These birds 

 are moved to sing by various sounds you 

 will often find them swelling their little 



