APRIL 79 



carry them, for their range in the direction of the Pole 

 exceeds that of any other land bird ? In hedge-row 

 elms the Fieldfares chatter noisily as they discuss their 

 approaching journey, while the grey-backed Hooded 

 Crows, which have haunted tidal river or rocky shore 

 through the winter, wing their way more sedately to 

 the north. 



In the woods in early April the year still seems to be 

 marking time, so little progress towards leafing do we 

 note from day to day. Only where a shade of green 

 creeps over the larches, have we the look and smell of 

 spring. But there is spring in the air, and birds on all 

 sides answer to her magic call. The ancient Carrion 

 Crow tunes his voice to soft, unwonted modulations, 

 and amorous Jays, discarding their harsh screech, 

 produce a combination of notes almost rising to the 

 level of a song. Magpies cough and chuckle as, with 

 the thorniest of twigs, they seek to render impregnable 

 their stick-built fortress in the larch. 



There is spring in the Nuthatch's clear whistle and in 

 his sounding taps upon the oak bough, while the 

 Ring Dove, leaving his perch with clap of wings, shoots 

 upward, remains motionless for a moment on expanded 

 pinions, and then glides downwards as if on an inclined 

 plane of air. Now also in the still woods is heard 

 that curious jarring sound, as of a tree trunk suddenly 

 rent, which is the Spotted Woodpecker's call to his 

 mate. The Green Woodpecker chuckles joyously and 



