220 NATURE AND WOODCRAF1. 



Thrush, the beautiful Rock-thrush, and the 

 Black-throated Thrush. 



Outside, here in the north, the lands are 

 deeply covered with snow, and the usual 

 supplies of food are cut off. The bright winter 

 berries of the hedgerows have vanished, and 

 the thrushes are more destitute than other birds. 

 The evergreens of the gardens are full of them. 

 In their aimless flying to and fro they shake the 

 feathered rain from the snow-plumed branches, 

 and many are so emaciated that they cower 

 with drooping wings beneath the thicker shrubs. 

 There the Blackbird darts out, as though to 

 show how cleanly cut is his trim figure against 

 the snow. He is more hardy than his con- 

 geners, and is self-assertive and bold wherever 

 food is to be had. Few winter notes are so 

 characteristic as his metallic " clink ! clink ! " 

 coming through the thin frosty air at sundown. 

 Even hardier than the Blackbird is the Dipper. 

 This interesting brook-bird seems to revel in 

 icy-cold water. See how he dashes through the 

 spray and into the white foam, soon to emerge 

 to his green mossy stone. Presently he melts 

 into the water like a bubble, then reappears ; 

 and, after trilling out a loud wren-like song, 



