In Farm and Garden. 1 8 1 



times are approaching both for man and beast. The 

 gamekeeper knocks it over with an oath, and fills its 

 tuneful yellow bill with blood, because it not only 

 looks like a Hawk, but he is " sartin sure" that it 

 turns into one for the winter! 



The turnip fields in autumn are always a favourite 

 resort of birds. They are not only the last of the 

 cover left upon the farm, but they abound with food 

 for various species especially. They are the one 

 spot where the migrant Pipits, Thrushes, and even 

 Warblers can always be certain of a meal, to say 

 nothing of an odd Woodcock now and then and the 

 last lingering coveys of Partridges. Even in winter 

 the birds are fond of such a retreat. On many 

 farms the turnips are left in the ground — especially 

 the white variety — until they are wanted for the 

 cattle; the ground is soft and moist, and abounds 

 with food the small birds desire, whilst the broad 

 leaves are a shelter. 



Then in late autumn the Jack Snipe once more 

 appears upon the few square yards of bog beside the 

 pond where the cattle drink, or in the sunk fences 

 which usually become rills during the wetter portions 

 of the year. This little bird, we know, breeds upon 

 the Scandinavian fells, and yet it will return winter 

 after winter to the very centre of England to some 

 square yard of bog on a South Yorkshire farm, com- 

 ing and going so quietly that no man may say exactly 



