HABITS OF BIRDS. 23 



search of some unlucky Finch that has lingered after his 

 companions have sought repose. The female Rooks are 

 upon their nests, their partners perched close at hand, 

 the birds occasionally uttering a hoarse caw, or the young 

 birds their more feeble notes. The night mist hangs 

 low in the valley, and the Bat leaves his gloomy retreat 

 and courses through the air in search of his meal. The 

 wailing call of the Lapwing from the pasture, or the 

 screech of the Owl is heard,, proclaiming that the night 

 birds are about to usher forth ; yet still the Robin and a 

 solitary Thrush are heard to sing a few last notes. The 

 gloom is fast hastening into night, and ere long a 

 solemn stillness reigns, only broken by the cries, start- 

 ling and strange, of the birds or beasts of night. 



.... the restless day 



Expiring, lays tlie warbling world asleep. 



All diurnal birds have retired to rest — a rest how- 

 ever but of a few short hours' duration, for ere long bird 

 life with its ups and downs, cares and anxieties, will be 

 once again in full vigour. 



The above remarks apply to an inland pastoral dis- 

 trict, and he who roams in the haunts of the feathered 

 tribes in the morning and evening hours, be his rambles 

 on the sea coast, lonely moor, forest, swamp, or plain, 

 will not fail to find his stroll abounding with the interest- 

 ing habits, many probably unknown before, of these 

 feathered creatures. My aim in giving thee, gentle 

 reader, this brief and hasty sketch of bird life, is in the 

 hope that if thou hast not yet visited the haunts of birds 

 at these times thou wilt be led to do so ; for no matter 

 under what circumstances thou art placed, thou wilt not 

 fail to find abundant sources of plea.su re and profit by so 

 doing. 



