[Illustration: THE HERON'S NEST] BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND BY PHIL ROBINSON AUTHOR OF "_NOAH'S ARK_" "_THE POETS' BIRDS_" _ETC._ ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES WHYMPER AND OTHERS LONDON ISBISTER AND COMPANY LIMITED 15 & 16 TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDEN 1894 _Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. _London and Edinburgh_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE BIRDS OF THE SEASONS--SOME BIRDS OF PASSAGE--THE MIRACLE OF MIGRATION--THE THRUSH--THE BLACKBIRD--WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SINGING?--THE SWALLOW.....Pp. 11-43 CHAPTER II THE BIRDS OF THE MONTHS--SOME RARE BIRDS AND SOME COMMON--JANUARY AND THE FIELDFARE--FEBRURARY AND THE ROOK--MARCH, APRIL, MAY, WITH THE THRUSH, SWALLOW AND NIGHTINGALE--THE TERRORS OF MIGRATION--JUNE AND THE RING-DOVE--A WOOD-PIGEON PROBLEM--THE DOTTEREL--EVENING VOICES: THE NIGHTJARS--JULY AND THE SKYLARK--AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, WITH GROUSE AND PARTRIDGE--THE PTARMIGAN--THE OLD COCK-PHEASANT--NOVEMBER AND THE WOODCOCK--DECEMBER AND ITS ROBIN AND WREN.....Pp. 45-89 CHAPTER III THE ROOK--THE CUCKOO--LARK AND WOODLARK--THE SPARROW--PLAGUE OF BIRDS.....Pp. 91-110 CHAPTER IV BIRD-VOICES--THE CORN-CRAKE--THE BLACK-CAP--THE TURTLE-DOVE--CARPENTER-BIRDS--THE NUTHATCH--THE WRYNECK--THE GREAT TIT--THE LETTER-BOX TIT OF ROWFANT.....Pp. 111-130 CHAPTER V THE OWL--THE MAGPIE--THE KESTREL OR WINDHOVER--HAUNTS OF THE HERON--BIRD-DESTROYERS, THE GAMEKEEPER AND "NATURALIST".....Pp. 131-150 CHAPTER VI THE SEA-EAGLE--GUILLEMOTS--EGG-GATHERING--THE PARADISE OF THE PUFFINS--THE STORMY-PETREL--THE SEA-EAGLE'S VICTIMS--THE BLACK-BACKED GULL--THE SKUA--AMONG THE CORMORANTS AND GULLS.....Pp. 151-185 CHAPTER VII THE KINGFISHER--THE MYSTERY AND FOLK-LORE OF THE HALCYON--THE WATER-VOLE AT HOME--IN THE WATER-MEADOWS--THE MOORHEN AND ITS HAUNTS--THE REED-WARBLER--THE SEDGE-WARBLER--MUSIC OF THE SUMMER NIGHTS--WAKING THE SUN.....Pp. 187-216 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _Page_ "_Among the lilacs_" 15 _The Wild Swan_ 17 _Mobbing the Great Sea Lantern_ 23 "_In days of pinching want_" 28 "_As man's familiar guests_" 36 "_Waiting for the signal to start_" 41 _Swallows and rain_ 43 _Grouse_ 47