68 NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS FROM BURTON BRIDGE 
animal which shall afford some pleasing impression and draw away 
the thoughts from surroundings which tend to monotony. 
Briefly noting things which one has seen at various times, there 
is no harm in speaking of such ordinary circumstances as Rooks and 
Starlings feeding in the meadow, especially after a flood. Blackbirds 
Thrushes and the occasional presence of Wagtails and Plover may 
be noted. Greenfinches are often to be seen, apparently picking out 
the seeds from the spent hops on railway trucks. Then as regards 
the river—the Waterhens, and the cheerful little Grebes flopping 
suddenly under for a fairly prolonged search below water occasionally 
reappearing with something in their beaks which they sail about 
with for some time as if showing off in mild triumph, till presently 
they gulp it down and get ready for another subaqueous hunt. Often 
there are the Swans to watch and of all the things they do perhaps 
the most striking is the magnificent power and momentum of their 
flight. 
Not infrequently one has seen small pike lying near the 
buttresses of the Bridge, and twice has the capture of big fellows 
of nine and ten lbs. been witnessed. Dace may be seen in the 
Barbel Hole, sunning themselves at the top of the water, and taking 
the flies borne by the stream through the arches of the Meadow 
Road wing of the Bridge. The anglers also arrest attention, 
but not often by reason of their success. As regards rarer 
occurrences, or the presence of uncommon living things:—- 
A good many years ago I saw a Tern or Sea Swallow flying 
near the spot just mentioned, it had probably come inshore 
with a gale. Two or three times I have seen flights of wild duck 
which were changing their feeding ground. A few years ago I was 
amongst the witnesses of the arrival of five beautiful specimens of 
Shag or Green Cormorant. ‘They were just below the Barbel Hole, 
and at once became a target for stones from various men and boys, 
one of them being injured before we could get the stone-throwers 
to desist. The birds would probably get a better reception now with 
the increasing interest in natural objects. Several times one has 
seen Sparrow Hawks flying quite near brewery buildings, and one 
day I saw one perch on the stone ornament at the gable-end of Messrs. 
Salt’s pumping station. It remained there for some little time. 
During the last few years a Kingfisher has been frequently seen 
on the stone parapet edging the rails on the Burton side of the river 
