276 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



and ivy to regale themselves on the luscious 

 berries. The Woodpeckers, again, are never 

 affected by frost and snow. Their food is always 

 to be found amongst the timber, and their merry 

 notes resound in the woods as they hammer away 

 at the trees. They hunt in a more systematic 

 manner, beginning at the foot of the tree and 

 working gradually upwards, then dropping down 

 to the bottom of the next tree to begin again. 

 The Jays and Magpies lend life and animation to 

 the wintery landscape as they scream and chatter 

 among the leafless trees, or keep up a noisy con- 

 cert at nightfall in the pine woods and holly trees 

 where they roost. 



When the snow has gone, many kinds of 

 birds congregate on the newly-manured stubbles 

 which have been sown down with clover 

 Buntings, Larks, Rooks, and Starlings searching 

 for seeds and worms. Very early in the winter 

 ts the large companies of Goldcrests and Titmice 



disband, 4th c) 



December. b rea k up into smaller parties and spread them- 

 selves about the country, leaving the birch 

 coppices where they assembled on their arrival 

 here in autumn. Flocks of Geese may often be 

 seen crossing the inland districts during winter, 

 probably journeying from one coast to the other. 

 These parties generally assume the shape of a 

 wedge, or letter V ; and occasionally I have seen 

 them formed into a perfect A, the leader being at 

 the apex. We must also pay attention to the 

 various migratory movements of birds during this 



