AMONG THE BIRDS IJV AUTUMN. 187 



at this season. This bird lives in flocks like 

 Rooks, some of its gatherings being very large. 

 These companies are remarkably regular in their 

 movements, having certain recognised places 

 where they assemble at morn and even ; whilst 

 during the day many of the old birds pay visits 

 to their old breeding-places, the males singing 

 lustily from time to time. Now the young males s 

 may be heard making attempts at song. Some se|te n mber. th 

 of these even in the middle of November have 

 not fully acquired the brilliant dress of maturity, 

 the plumage on the head being changed last of 

 all. These young birds sing in a very low strain, 

 and their music is nothing near so varied as that 

 of the adults another proof, by the way, that the 

 songs of birds have to be slowly learnt in infancy, 

 just like the language of mankind. Then, again, 

 there is something ineffably sweet about the 

 Robin's song at this season, especially as we 

 listen to it at nightfall, when the evening mists 

 are rising from the woodlands, and the setting 

 sun reflects a refulgent light over the brightly- 

 painted trees. It is a song of hope, among the 

 ruins of summer's brilliant pageant, and a prophecy 

 that, beyond the coming winter, spring with all its 

 glories will again return. 



Then down by the stream side in the alder 

 trees the Siskins and the Titmice are busy. All 

 the summer the former little birds have been 

 in the northern fir forests, now they seek the 

 lower and more sheltered districts. Again, how 



