THE RURAL DISTRICTS OF BATH. 107 



farm-houses in different parts of the parish. These lanes and paths afford 

 shady and agreeable walks to the pedestrian; but the contiguity of this 

 naturally beautiful district to so large a town as Bath, tempts great 

 numbers of city sportsmen throughout the winter season, who make sad 

 havoc with the feathered creation. The few which escape, are, however, 

 sufficient to add interest to the rambles which may be pursued in every 

 direction, from the banks of the Avon on the south to the top of 

 Lansdown on the north, and from east to west. The admirer of nature 

 finds many attractions even at this rough time of the year, and looks 

 forward with pleasing anticipations for the approaching spring. But with 

 this genial season, to his great disgust and annoyance, comes another class 

 of persecutors, in the persons of mischievous boys, who scan the fields, 

 scrutinizing every hedge and tree in pursuit of birds' nests, so that in 

 every walk one or more of the idle vagabonds is met with eggs strung 

 upon a primrose stalk. These doings leave little encouragement to the 

 naturalist; nevertheless the healthy freshness of the country air and its 

 invigorating influence, fortify the mind, and dispose the lover of nature 

 to make the best of such adverse circumstances. 



The farms distributed over this extensive parish are in small holdings, 

 being chiefly pasture lands, supporting dairies of cows, which supply a large 

 proportion of the milk consumed in Bath. I take every opportunity of 

 endeavouring to create among the farmers some feeling in favour of the 

 feathered creation, but they are wholly indifferent upon the subject. 

 Talking with one of these gentry a few days back, whose farm joins a 

 mansion called Weston House, on one side of which is a shrubbery, 

 where birds might be expected to congregate, "How is it," I inquired, 

 "that so few birds are to be seen in this favourable situation?" In reply 

 he repeated the same causes I have already noticed, adding, that formerly 

 there existed a rookery upon the high trees near the house, but the 

 ladies who then occupied the mansion caused the rooks to be destroyed. 

 Thus it is that a beautiful rural district has been denuded of one of the 

 greatest attractions the country can possess. 



Bath, April, 1858. 



VOL. VIII. 



