266 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



stump has received its decorative touch snow, 

 pure and dazzling snow is everywhere. Lost and 

 bewildered birds fly across the white wastes which 

 yestereven were green meadows and pastures. 

 Already they feel the pinch of hunger, and betake 

 themselves to the berries on the hedges, or to any 

 green oases they may see from their lofty path. 

 The hedgerows in places are almost buried by the 

 drift, the fields are deserted, and even the wariest 

 of birds draw near to the farmhouses hunger 

 overcoming their inherent wildness and timidity. 

 Bowed down to the earth with their weight of 

 snow are many of the branches of the evergreens; 

 snow in masses clings to the foliage of the ivy on 

 the trunks and limbs of the forest giants. The 

 rabbits scratch and scrape amongst the snow to 

 uncover the herbage on which they feed ; the 

 nervous hares start hurriedly across the white 

 fields and seek the turnips ; scarcely a bird is 

 heard to chirp animated nature is panic-stricken 

 by the sudden, unexpected storm. Should the 

 snow lie any length of time, it is surprising how 

 soon the various wild creatures make the best of 

 things, and accommodate themselves as well as 

 they can to the changed conditions of their life. 

 Many there are that hurry away to districts which 

 have escaped the storm, returning to their old 

 haunts with the thaw; but many more remain and 

 pick up a precarious living among the snow. 

 Most wild creatures leave the higher ground and 

 seek shelter in the valleys ; birds especially flock 



