Minstrels of the Winter. 17 



the advantage of having watched a curious part of their 

 history. 



And now, after all, how did the jelly get upon the deck of 

 the "Dulcinea" ? No doubt Chironomus and Phryganea deposited 

 their eggs there ; but why so recklessly over sail-coat, coil of 

 rope, and deck, instead of in the lake close at hand ? That I 

 do not attempt to explain, but merely state the facts as I 

 observed or heard them. 



MINSTRELS OF THE WINTER. 



BY SHIELEY HIBBEED. 



Theee are not many, even among genuine inquirers and 

 observers, who can exercise the needful patience to gather 

 knowledge for themselves on the subject of winter birds. A 

 man who has spent six days in stalking a " rnuckle hart of 

 Benmore," or who has passed a night in a hunter's lodge on 

 the shore of a lonely mere in Le Morvan, or has endured 

 wind, rain, and hunger in angling for grayling beside a poor 

 swim on the banks of the Wye, the Dove, or the Ribble, may 

 be able to sit still for hours on a muggy December day, or 

 during the prevalence of a north-easter in January, and make 

 notes of what birds move about among the dead leaves and 

 fern in the copse, or try their luck beside the frozen brook, or 

 sail high in the heavens, screaming more discordantly than 

 the wind, on their way to discover a land of plenty, when 

 frost has made a more terrible dearth than a burning drought 

 in summer time. It is not at all a barren occupation to sit at 

 a window overlooking an open country or a well wooded 

 garden, and by the aid of a short-focus telescope, take note of 

 all the birds that come and go, how many robins, blackbirds, 

 thrushes, how many less-known aves flit across the scene, or 

 pause for a season and explore for sustenance, and perhaps 

 whistle a merry song, or engage in a small encounter — though 

 birds rarely fight in winter — and thus acquire somewhat of a 

 notion of the ornithological wealth of the district. One thing 

 I know by experience, that if the residents in the suburbs of 

 London, especially those dwelling three or more miles from St. 

 Paul's, were to engage themselves in this very quiet and in- 

 exciting recreation occasionally, they would derive considerable 

 satisfaction in learning by observation, that many more birds 

 visit the gardens in the suburbs of Loudon, as, indeed, of all 

 large towns, than is usually supposed; and this knowledge 

 might make many more contented with their lot who are now 

 vol. v. — NO. i. c 



