20 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



ing during my sojourn at the village. There were 

 more. I heard the calls and cries of others in 

 the wood and various places, but refused, except 

 in the case of the too elusive crake, to set down 

 any in my list that I did not see. It was not my 

 ambition to make a long list. My greatest desire 

 was to see well those that interested me most. 

 But those who go forth, as I did, to look for 

 birds that are a sight for sore eyes, must meet 

 with many a disappointment. In all those fruit 

 and shade trees that covered the village with a 

 cloud of verdure, and in the neighbouring woods, 

 not once did I catch a glimpse of the green wood- 

 pecker, a beautiful conspicuous bird, supposed to 

 be increasing in many places in England. Its ab- 

 sence from so promising a locality seemed strange. 

 Another species, also said to be increasing in the 

 country — the turtledove, was extremely abundant. 

 In the tall beech woods its low, montonous croon- 

 ing note was heard all day long from all sides. 

 In shady places, where the loud, shrill bird-voices 

 are few, one prefers this sound to the set song 

 of the woodpigeon, being more continuous and 

 soothing, and of the nature of a lullaby. It 

 sometimes reminded me of the low monotone I 



