THE COMMONER BIRDS OF OUR GARDENS. 



481) 



entrance into its diet must be regarded as accidental, while its warmest 

 advocate cannot deny the regular way in which it will at all times set 

 itself to bite off the blossom buds from one bough after another. The 

 bullfinch is a good judge of variety : some trees and bushes will be wholly 

 spared, while others growing among them will be utterly stripped (fig. 70). 

 The buds which produce leaves are said frequently to be passed over, whilst 

 those containing the embryo blossom are eaten. Red currant, gooseberry, 

 cherry, and plum are first attacked, then pear and apple when sufficiently 

 forward, while peach and kindred trees are neglected. 



After March they are seldom seen out of deep woodland. They are 

 said to produce only one brood, but this is said to need verification. 



Newman asserts that it devours the larvre of the winter moth. 



Swift : Cypsclus apus. 



The swift is larger than the martin or swallow. Its body is of a dark 

 grey-brown colour. The chin is a dull white. The tail is more forked 

 than that of the martin, and less forked than that of the swallow. 



Unlike the swallow and martin its nest is a slight structure of straws, 

 cobwebs, and a few feathers, often placed under tiles or slates of roofs of 

 buildings. 



It arrives towards the end of April, lays two eggs, and usually produces 

 only one brood, quitting the country at the end of August. 



Like the swallow and martin its food consists of insects caught whilst 

 in flight. The bird seems to be in continual motion, rarely resting. 



MlSSEL-THRUSH '. Tw'duS visCWOTUS. 



This bird is somewhat larger than the song thrush, and with larger 

 spots on its breast. It is resident all the year round, though some 

 migrate. It is not as abundant as the song thrush, though numerous in 

 Kent ; it is most noticeable in autumn and winter. 



The distribution of this bird is increasing ; it is said that it used not to 

 be known in the north of England and Scotland. The males begin to 

 sing very early, often in January, and, if the weather be mild, sometimes 

 in December. It sings generally from the top of some lofty tree, and as 

 it sings in bad weather, regardless of wind, rain, and even snow, it is often 

 called "stormcock." Its flight is rapid, and made in a succession of 

 jerks. 



Its food consists chiefly of worms, slugs, and snails, fruit and berries, 

 it being especially fond of those of yew, holly, mountain ash, and mistletoe. 

 In some parts, particularly in Kent, it is very severe on garden and orchard 

 fruit. 



It makes its nest early in the year, sometimes as early as February. 



It lays four or five eggs and generally rears two broods in a season. 

 Yarrell mentions that the chaffinch builds its nest near to that of the 

 missel-thrush, perhaps for protection. 



Greater Whitethroat : Sylvia cincrea. 



The whitethroat, also called the Nettle-creeper, is one of our com- 

 monest summer visitors and generally distributed throughout the British 



