290 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



not associated with either. Most birds lose their 

 song in the autumn moult, and never warble 

 again until the following spring ; but to this rule 

 there are certain exceptions. In winter the Robin 

 is the most prominent songster, his sweet and 

 plaintive strains being heard in every wood and 

 coppice. He sings throughout the short winter 

 days, even into the twilight, when the dull red 

 sun settles solemnly down behind the hills. The 

 restless little Wren is another winter songster, his 

 loud voice ringing cheerfully out from amongst 

 the icicle-draped roots and branches, through 

 which he loves to hop and sport, with tail held 

 impudently erect. Another winter chorister is 

 the handsome Missel-thrush, or " Stormcock," the 

 largest of the British Thrushes. His notes are 

 usually given forth from the topmost branches of 

 the highest trees, and resemble those of the Song 

 Thrush and the Blackbird, but possess a wild 

 cadence peculiarly their own. Far up among the 

 bending branches, often before daybreak, his rich, 

 wild lay is heard ; the blinding snowstorm seem- 

 ing but to increase the beauty of his song, and to 

 lend it an additional sweetness. The Starling 

 warbles right through the winter, and the Song 

 Thrush commences to do so as soon as he returns 

 't? to his accustomed haunts. This latter bird is 

 February. fi rs t heard to sing according to the state of the 

 weather, its migrations extending over three 

 weeks. As soon as they are back again, if the 

 season is mild, they sing very freely, visiting the 



