286 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



more frequent voice, the Hedge Accentor and the 

 Wren are particularly musical; whilst during this 

 month we may find the first nests of the Song 

 Thrush and the Missel-thrush, the Robin and the 

 Hedge Accentor. In the northern shires, however, 

 these early birds not unfrequently suffer for their 

 precocity, and a late fall of snow destroys many 

 nests and eggs. The Dipper is now full of nuptial 

 song, and the Gray Wagtail resorts to the streams 

 where shortly it will rear its young. There is also 

 a considerable migrational movement going on 

 among Pied Wagtails, and Yellow Wagtails in some 

 numbers appear upon the fallows. The Bramblings 

 leave their winter quarters in the shrubberies, and 

 the numbers of the Redwing visibly decline. The 

 first indication of our summer birds of passage is 

 given by some venturesome Chiffchaff or Wheatear; 

 the flocks of Lapwings are dispersing to their breed- 

 ing-places; so too are the Mallards. March is 

 generally a cold and cheerless month in the south 

 of Yorkshire, and the advance in bird-life is not 

 unfrequently checked by spells of winter weather. 



We find abundant recompense for this, however, 

 in the avine changes associated with April. The 

 Missel-thrush now finally becomes mute; but every 

 other singing species is full of song. Now the Yel- 

 low Bunting and the Greenfinch are in fine voice, 

 the Sky-lark warbles incessantly, and the avine 



