120 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



four broods in a season. House Sparrows may 

 almost be said to breed nine months out of the 

 twelve, and I have even known them to do so in 

 mild winters. The Ring Dove is another bird 

 whose fecundity is large, and may be found nesting 

 all through the summer and during the greater 

 bufiding.tth part of autumn. Yellow Buntings and Green- 

 finches also rear several broods, often beginning 

 to build a new nest long after the hay crops are 

 gathered. 



The birds that breed earliest in spring are 

 naturally the first to moult. No bird sings during 

 bSfomouit- tm " s trying period of its life. Thrushes begin to 

 j3y. 23rd drop their primaries first ; and a walk through 

 the haunts of bird life at the close of July will 

 reveal abundant evidence in the shape of cast 

 feathers, that the great autumn moult has com- 

 menced. Birds now become remarkably shy and 

 retiring, and keep out of view for days together. 

 They love to skulk amongst the densest parts of 

 their haunts, only take flight when absolutely 

 compelled, and are weak and sickly, feed very 

 little, and sit and mope in the shade by the hour 

 together. Many birds, especially Gulls, Geese, 

 and Ducks, retire miles away from land to moult 

 their plumage ; and in some species the wing 

 feathers fall out so rapidly that they are absolutely 

 unable to fly until the new quills grow. With 

 most other species the quills, the most important 

 feathers of all, are moulted in pairs, rather slowly, 

 so that the bird is not unable to fly at any time 



