THE STORMCOCK. 



253 



month, until the sun has entered into Cancer, at 

 which period he seems to unstring his lyre for a 

 few weeks. Towards the close of December his 

 song is particularly charming ; and it becomes more 

 frequent as the new year advances. I remember 

 well (indeed^ I noted down the circumstance^) that, 

 on December 21. 1827^, his carol was remarkably 

 attractive. He warbled incessantly from the top of 

 a lofty elm, just as the poor from a neighbouring 

 village were receiving corn under it, in memory of 

 St. Thomas the Apostle. In the olden time, it was 

 a common practice throughout the land to distribute 

 corn to the needy, on the day in which the festival 

 of this glorious saint is kept. At present the good 

 dole seems fast approaching to its latter end. Pro- 

 bably in a few years more it will fall a victim to the 

 times, and be trodden under foot in the modern 

 march of intellect. 



This bird, though usually known by the name of 

 the mistletoe thrush in many parts of England, is 

 invariably called the stormcock by all the lower 

 orders in our neighbourhood ; not that it delights 

 in storms more than in fine weather, but that Na- 

 ture has taught it to pour forth its melody at a time 

 of the year when the bleak winds of winter roar 

 through the leafless trees. Should, however, a few 

 days of calm and warmth succeed to the chilling 

 blast, then the stormcock is heard to sing, if any 

 thing, more sweetly than before. 



The stormcock is a decided inhabitant of trees, 

 except sometimes when in quest of food ; for at that 

 time he may be seen on the ground, and in berry- 



