284 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



and there a gay Chaffinch or a Bunting sits on the 

 topmost sprays, resting for a moment as they pass 

 over the snow-clad fields. But they must be ever 

 watchful and on the alert, as the bold Sparrow- 

 hawk courses up and down the hedge-sides, and 

 may bear them off in an instant. In the neglected 

 weedy corners of the fields and along by the 

 hedges, where the thistle is allowed to flourish by 

 the slovenly farmer, we may often meet with a 

 party of Goldfinches. Beautiful little birds they 

 are, displaying their bright colours to perfection 

 as they cling with fluttering wings to the prickly 

 thistle heads, or flit along from stem to stem, 

 scattering the downy seeds, and twittering to 

 each other as they go. Bullfinches, usually in 

 pairs, pass along the tangled hedges, being 

 particularly fond of dock seeds ; and their low, 

 soft, piping call-note is heard from time to time 

 as one bird gets separated from the other. Both 

 these species are thorough wanderers, and often 

 travel miles in a day, feeding as they go. Nearer 

 home we shall not fail to see the ever welcome 

 Robin, so neat and sprightly-looking in spite of 

 snow and frost, disputing with the Sparrows for 

 the scattered crumbs. 



Another interesting bird of winter is the 

 Brambling, all the way from Arctic forests, a 

 refugee from the northern winter. This species 

 lives in flocks during the winter, and often mixes 

 with Chaffinches and Redwings. It seldom 



