168 Birds in Winter. 



It is curious to notice that they both seem to flourish 

 equall}^ well — one in the coolest, the other in the 

 hottest place. A third may generally be found in 

 the strawberrj'-bed. Strawberries are much eaten by 

 insects of many kinds ; so that the toad really does 

 good service in a garden. 



In winter, when snow is on the ground, a few larks 

 sometimes venture into the garden where anj^ thing 

 green yet shows above the white covering on the 

 patches. If the weather is severe, the moor-hen will 

 come up from the brook, though two fields distant, 

 in the night, and the marks of her feet may be traced 

 round the house. Then, as the evening approaches, 

 the wild ducks pass over, and every now and then 

 during the night the weird cries of waterfowl resound 

 in the frosty air. The heron sails slowly over every 

 night and every morning backwards and forwards 

 from the mere to the water-meadows and the brook, 

 uttering his unearthly call at intervals. 



