286 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



less gregarious during the cold season, but is 

 not very sociably inclined towards other species. 

 Broods and their parents generally live together 

 till the spring, and sometimes these family parties 

 gather into larger flocks, especially where beech- 

 mast or yew berries chance to be plentiful. Few 

 birds are more skulking in their movements than 

 Hawfinches, and very often their clicking call- 

 note is the only sign of their presence. They fly 

 through the yew thickets with remarkable speed, 

 or hurry along from one beech tree to another, 

 only showing themselves at uncertain intervals. 



The occasional spells of mild weather we 

 experience during the winter are apt to make 

 birds forget the snow and frost, with all their 

 attendant terrors, and to tempt them into un- 

 wonted activity. Skylarks and Thrushes feel 

 the influence of the warm sunshine, and give 

 vent to their joy in bursts of song ; birds that 

 live in flocks scatter more over the open country ; 

 localities which were deserted when the frost 

 came, suddenly become full of birds. The Wild 

 Ducks hasten back to inland waters ; Larks 

 return to the stubbles ; and the various small 

 birds that kept close to our houses when the snow 

 was lying deep, now rapidly desert us and return 

 to their wonted haunts in the woods and fields. 

 Some of the most engaging of our winter birds 

 are the various species of Titmice. These hardy 

 little creatures lend animation to the woods and 



