306 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



wreath. They are readily distinguished two 

 toes in front, two behind ; but the Woodpeckers 

 shun the snow, for it fills up the crannies of the 

 bark and prevents them from finding the various 

 forms of insect life that lurk therein. 



In the farmyard, many little footprints are 

 traced upon the snow left there by Sparrows, 

 Buntings, and Chaffinches ; whilst in the hedge- 

 rows an occasional " card " is left by the skulking 

 Hedge Sparrow and the restless Wren. By care- 

 fully following up and studying these tracks upon 

 the snow, we are enabled to read the various 

 actions of the birds at the time they imprinted 

 them there. We can see how the Rooks have 

 been walking up and down, digging here and there 

 into the ground for same lurking grub or other 

 food ; we can tell that the Starlings visited these 

 excavations after the Rooks had left them, in the 

 doubtful hope of meeting with something suited 

 to their own particular taste. We can track the 

 Robin's path from the wood-heap to the scattered 

 crumbs outside the cotter's door ; we know the 

 errand this bright-eyed songster was on ; we can 

 picture him in imagination taking every one of 

 those tiny hops, flicking his wings and tail the 

 while, and looking so trim and neat as he came 

 along so full of confidence. In fact, these writings 

 on the mud and the snow are full of birds' habits ; 

 they are a faithful record of the ways and doings 

 of our feathered friends, if we only take the 

 trouble to read them. 



