274 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



warning" is a flock of Lapwings hastening from 

 the marshes, now frost-bound and covered with 

 snow, to more open pastures. In irregular order, 

 these handsome birds steadily pursue their way 

 across country, the mark of every wandering 

 gunner, whose long-waited-for opportunity is the 

 season of the poor birds' adversity. At such a 

 time many a storm-driven bird is seen in localities 

 least adapted to its habits. Oceanic birds are 

 driven inland ; moorland birds seek the valleys, 

 and marsh birds the troubled streams. Shy birds 

 become tame ; wary birds show an amount of 

 trustfulness quite at variance with their usual 

 habits. Gulls wander far up the rivers ; Cor- 

 morants and even Petrels visit inland sheets of 

 water. At such a time the air is often full of 

 bewildered birds, careering aimlessly about, flying 

 steadily along in twos and threes, or in immense 

 flocks composed of many species banded together 

 by one common impulse. 



Then comes the threatened snowstorm, and 

 the country-side becomes one vast white expanse. 

 The soft fleecy snow covers everything. It even 

 clings to the clusters of bright red berries on the 

 hawthorns, where the Fieldfares and Missel- 

 thrushes have to shake it off before they can get 

 their morning meal. See the various Thrushes how 

 they congregate upon the berry-bearing trees this 

 morning ; Redwings and Blackbirds coming to 

 them, now that the ground is covered with snow, 

 and they are prevented from searching for worms 



