i 9 2 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



irregular in his song, being influenced by the 

 weather and the nature of the haunts he frequents. 

 If these are at all bare and exposed he sings 

 little ; and even in the shrubberies a week or 

 more often passes without him engaging in song. 

 In October the Song Thrush warbles occasionally ; 

 and the Willow Wren and Chiffchaff, as soon as 

 they get over the moult, sing from time to time, 

 until they leave for Africa. The Chaffinch breaks 

 out into fitful song after the moult ; and the 

 Yellow Bunting and the Greenfinch also help to 

 swell the meagre concert of the woods and fields 

 at this season. 



Our wanderings among the birds in autumn 

 are full of uncertainty, which tends to increase 

 the charm of outdoor observations. Now is the 

 season for some of our rarest birds to accidentally 

 reach this country distinguished strangers from 

 distant lands, who have lost their way, and 

 wandered from their usual course. We have no 

 room here to notice them, but will reserve the 

 following chapter for that purpose. Many of the 

 birds that lent an interest to the woods and fields 

 in spring and summer have gone ; but, to com- 

 pensate us for their absence, others have come, 

 and are constantly arriving, to take their place ; 

 whilst this element of uncertainty as to what 

 species we may chance to meet with in our 

 rambles is a grand inducement to spend as much 

 as possible of the delicious, dreamy autumn out of 

 doors among the birds. 



