SOME ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS OF GODALMING. 265 



range the wastes, and the red and blue are very conspicuous 

 in their fleeces, the blue being much preferred. The chief 

 natural produce of the blue sand is heath of the three usual 

 species, which are very apt to be completely matted together 

 with Cuscuta. The marshes or moors, as they are here called, 

 produce immense quantities of the beautiful little Drosera. In 

 the low lands we find an almost infinity of water-fowl ; on the 

 hills grouse ; and, if abundant in furze, the Dartford warblers ; 

 and both situations are assiduously hunted by hawks and 

 owls, frequently of the rarer species. This desert district is a 

 favourite resort of the Fern Owl ; it is exceeding abundant, 

 so much so, that its cry is quite wearisome of an evening. 

 The bird is plentiful on every heathy district in the 

 neighbourhood. On Highdown heath Mr. Stafford shot 

 forty-seven in a very short space of time. 



The hills in the immediate neighbourhood of Godalming 

 are completely covered with coppices, abounding with trees 

 in all stages of growth, forming as excellent a resort for the 

 Passerine birds as the ponds and moors do for the swimmers 

 and waders. In the underwood of these hills the shy haw- 

 finch breeds annually, and remains throughout the year ; but 

 the parent birds are difficult to obtain, flying the instant 

 they catch sight of a gunner, although many hundred yards 

 distant. 



The fir-trees on the higher grounds are frequently the 

 resort of whole troops of crossbills. The higher trees in 

 the coppices are often selected as building-places by the 

 carrion crow and magpie ; the latter, however, is not a very 

 common bird in the district. Noblemen's and gentlemen's 

 seats are abundantly scattered throughout the district, and 

 there is scarcely one without its rookery, so that these birds 

 abound. The hooded crow is also extremely plentiful ; and it 

 is next to impossible to cross the common between Godalming 

 and Guildford without driving several of them from the turn- 

 pike road, on which they remain in the most fearless manner, 

 until the horses of a coach are within twenty yards of them : 

 on being disturbed they take a short circuit, and settle on the 

 identical spot from which they had risen. The sand- banks 

 existing throughout the district are completely honey-^combed 

 by the sand martin, but in many places the original excavators 



