13 
apart from the short rest they take at the heat of noon, 
their hawking for food seems uninterrupted. In this neigh- 
bourhood they choose the two tallest houses, and every 
year sees a very strong colony under their eaves. 
YOUNG SWALLOWS 
Two pairs of Swa!lows nested in the wash-house last 
year, and again this year, and each pair brought off two 
broods. 
Of the Corvidce, the Rook is a constant visitor. He 
looks ridiculously out of drawing as he takes his stand on a 
little fruit-tree—perhaps 1o feet in height—and from that 
point of vantage awaits his reward, the food thrown into 
the run for the fowls. We have watched constantly, and 
have never remarked any inclination on the part of the 
Rook either to take the small chickens, or to lift the eggs. 
Neither do the hens seem to resent his presence in the run. 
The Jackdaw I have seen occasionally on the stable roof. 
The Cuckoo, of course, is heard constantly in late 
spring and early summer; and another summer bird, which, 
although never seen in the garden, seems very familiar 
through its searching note, is the Corncrake. This year, 
round here, it has been strangely silent, and one can only 
think that the continued wet has proved too much for the 
local birds. 
The presence of the large Heronry at Eaton Hall, 
which is within three miles, makes the sight of a Heron 
quite a usual one. Whilst sitting in the garden, one’s 
attention is arrested by a hoarse and dismal “‘clonk” high 
overhead ; and, on looking up, two or three great birds may 
