FEBRUARY 45 



the early dawnings of an aesthetic appreciation of 

 colour. But the snowdrops are sometimes ill-used 

 in the same fashion, so that further data seem to be 

 needed before we can reach a conclusion. 



Bird-song gathers strength and volume as the month 

 proceeds. The Blackbird, Chaffinch, and Skylark, 

 whose voices were only occasionally heard in January, 

 now come into full song. The blackbird's notes, 

 quiet, leisurely and mellow, have none of the quick, 

 eager change of phrase characteristic of the thrush, 

 but we have known one individual to be constant to a 

 curious variation, much like the piping of the ring 

 ouzel. Many a dripping February morning is enlivened 

 by the skylarks, which sing madly as the sun gets 

 through the fog. The Yellow-hammers now begin to 

 join in from the hedge-tops, and the Corn Bunting 

 grinds out his monotonous refrain, like the jingling of 

 a bunch of keys. Starlings collect in the tops of the 

 elms and warble in concert. On sunny days the short, 

 shrill song of the Tree Creeper is heard everywhere 

 amongst the old timber, whence also comes the Nut- 

 hatch's loud spring whistle. 



Meanwhile the Stonechat sings as he flits, all anima- 

 tion, about the tops of the furze, sometimes hovering 

 for a moment like a whitethroat, then perching again 

 as he scolds, with quick, nervous movement of wings 

 and tail. In parts of the country where it occurs, the 

 Woodlark flutes a soft, musical accompaniment to the 



