294 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



the third week in January; but more usually its 

 bright, cheery song is a striking feature of the 

 early days of February. He is quite a month 

 later to begin his vernal song in Yorkshire. An 

 occasional Robin's nest is by no means unusual 

 in this month. There is no change of importance 

 taking place amongst bird-life on the coast, except 

 that gales bring many species landwards, or severe 

 weather inland drives other species to the shore or 

 the low-lying lands in its vicinity. In February 

 Ravens are breeding, and the Rooks and House 

 Sparrows begin to build. Throughout this month 

 the Song Thrush is in charming voice, often 

 warbling well into the dusk, especially in some 

 of the sheltered gardens and shrubberies. Towards 

 the end of the month the Blackbird has regained 

 his song, sometimes warbled, by the way, while 

 the bird is standing on the ground, as we re- 

 marked during the present spring (i2th April 

 1899). Soon after the middle of February the 

 flocks of Yellow and Cirl Buntings, Chaffinches, 

 and Greenfinches disband, and by the end of 

 the month many of them are in pairs for the 

 breeding season. In March a very perceptible 

 increase in bird-song is apparent. The Yellow 



