WHEN LIFE STIRS. 



features which, when life stirs, are noticed by all ; 

 the green sheath of the one and the loud bold 

 song of the other attract ear and eye quickly. 

 The missel - thrush is the earliest member of his 

 family whose song welcomes the turn of the year. 

 His relatives the song -thrush and the blackbird 

 are early nesters, frequently having eggs laid be- 

 fore those other thrushes, the redwing and the 

 fieldfare, have made up their minds to leave us ; 

 but they can hardly be said to sing yet. Now 

 and then they do make a start ; but not before 

 the furrows reek with the warm April showers 

 will they be in full song. The first to rejoice in 

 the new life is that undaunted woodland singer 

 the storm-cock ; and his song is a welcome one, 

 fitting in with the rush of gales and the tossing 

 of tree-branches, when all life is stirring. 



The green woodpecker and his mate are busy 

 now, prospecting round ; for the grubs that have 

 burrowed deep down in their tunnels now draw 

 up as near as they can to the bark, warmth being 

 "necessary for their perfect development. It is 

 wonderful what a wealth of insect life old trees 

 hold. It takes these woodpeckers some time to 



