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 neighbounng 
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- 
