FLOCKS OF BIRDS. 39 



his fruit, or destroy his buds, is absurd. It is equally 

 absurd to fine what twaddle ! a lad for taking a 

 bird's egg. The only point upon which I am fully 

 clear is that the birdcatcher who takes birds on 

 land not his own or in his occupation, on public 

 property, as roads, wastes, commons, and so forth, 

 ought to be rigidly put down. But as for the small 

 birds as a mass, I am convinced that they will never 

 cease out of the land. 



It is not easy to progress far along this road, because 

 every bird suggests so many reflections and recollec- 

 tions. Upon approaching the rising ground at Ewell 

 green plovers or peewits become plentiful in the corn- 

 fields. In spring and early summer the flocks break up 

 to some extent, and the scattered parties conduct their 

 nesting operations in the pastures or on the downs. 

 In autumn they collect together again, and flocks of 

 fifty or more are commonly seen. Now and then a 

 much larger flock comes down into the plain, wheeling 

 to and fro, and presently descending upon an arable 

 field, where they cover the ground. 



