AMONG THE BIRDS IN WINTER. 273 



dispersing. Change upon change in the birds' 

 economy is ever occurring to his observation, at 

 some seasons so rapidly that even a day scarce 

 passes but his knowledge is increased by a variety 

 of interesting facts. In winter he may watch the 

 ways of birds as they lead a gipsy kind of life, 

 ever wandering in search of food ; in spring, the 

 arrival of the vast army of migratory birds is a 

 salient feature, love and courtship, song and war, 

 being the order of the day ; in summer, domestic 

 arrangements are most birds' all-absorbing care ; 

 whilst in autumn, their loss of voice, moulting, 

 gathering together, and migrations afford abundant 

 scope for him who loves to study wild bird life in 

 field or wood, or by the lonely shore. Now we 

 will go out amongst bird life in the snow, to 

 watch our feathered friends on naked branches, 

 and to follow them along the frozen streams, and 

 into the warm shrubberies, where the evergreens 

 afford them shelter from the storm. 



Nothing disorganises bird life so much as a 

 long-continued frost ; like a great army in full 

 retreat, the various species fly before it, each 

 struggling for food and life, and compelled to 

 alter their habits with the unusual change in the 

 weather. Before the storm arrives, the birds un- 

 erringly foretell its approach. Vast flocks of 

 Skylarks may often be seen winging their way 

 across the gray, lowering sky, retreating before 

 the snow which covers their favourite stubbles 

 and buries their food. Another sure " storm- 



