\7-2 



Pictures of Bird Life 



During a short spell of frost and snow one Januury. 

 T spent five days in the attempt to photograph a Snipe on 

 the ground. For fi\e hours eaeli day I sat on the snow 

 covered over with a sheet, in the middle of a flooded field. 

 I^apwings were Aery numerous, and sometimes came rather 

 close, and Snipe were constantly seen flying over. Se\'eral 

 were on the ground in front of me for a considerable time ; 

 but the dim light of a winter's dav was not enouffh to 



LiTiL'c Gklll { /'•'ii'.'u'ps yiiiii ifi/is). 



distinguish them in the photograph from the nuiddy ground on 

 which they sat, and the photographs were of no practical use. 



AVild Geese may often be seen flying over in their 

 accustomed ^^-shaped formation during tlie winter months. 



Black-headed (iulls frequent occasionally not only tlie 

 sewage-farm, but also an artificially flooded pond made for 

 skating. One day I saw a flock of quite a hundred birds flying 

 about and settling on the ice. Every now and then the (tuIIs 

 were driven off by a Carrion-crow which seemed to resent their 

 presence, but after wheeling round they soon returned to the spot. 



