Effects of Intense Cotd on Birds. 133 



and in sheltered places. This I further observed at the latter 

 end of December, 1870, during unusually frosty weather, at 

 Kinsale, where the song-thrushes, blackbirds, fieldfares, red- 

 wings, missel-thrushes, titlarks, grey and pied wagtails are 

 extremely plentiful during winter. Then after a few days' 

 continuous frost many became so enfeebled that the village 

 boys captured them with the hand or knocked them over 

 with stones. It was then interesting to observe the relative 

 powers of resistance of the different species, inasmuch as 

 the missel-thrush and blackbird seemed far less affected by 

 the temperature than the fieldfare, redwing, and song-thrush. 

 The pied wagtail, however, suffered most, being often very 

 feeble, and scarcely able to fly beyond a few yards ; whilst 

 the titlark and grey wagtail, although materially affected, were 

 least so. What a contrast all these birds presented to robin- 

 redbreast, which, owing to its habit of drawing near houses, 

 always manages to brave the coldest seasons with impunity ; 

 and not only that, but when the others were crouching, 

 ruffed and starving, under shelter, its lively little form may 

 be seen piping on any bare twig I suspect the missel, being 

 the largest, is also the hardiest of British thrushes. Moreover 

 on that account it holds its own against all its compeers, 

 driving them away from the feeding-grounds. Much, how- 

 ever, depends on facilities in procuring food ; for the grey 

 wagtail during winter repairs to springs seldom frozen, where 

 it picks up subsistence with the snipe, when the latter is 

 obliged to abandon bogs and swamps. The old saying 

 that " a hungry man is an angry man," is also referable 

 to birds under the above conditions, as shown by the fretful 

 tempers which they display towards one another. No doubt 

 the migratory thrush is hardy enough ; but as the ground 

 berries and fruits are covered over, and the vibernums and 

 mountain ash become more or less overwhelmed in snow, 

 a fruit-eating bird must make great efforts to support 

 itself and struggle against the cold. Perhaps in process of 



