TO THE WEST 



AMONG rushes fringing a common's pond snipe are 

 always in evidence, and there is no mis- 

 A Worm taking their sign on the pond's margin, 

 Indicator where the probing of their long, straight, 

 sensitive bills has covered the mud with a 

 pattern of minute holes. No bird has a more sensitive 

 worm-indicator than the snipe in its nerve-lined bill, 

 and it is a perfect worm-catching tool, marvellously 

 flexible, so that no more than the tip need be opened to 

 nip the wriggling prey. The bird's eyes are set far back, 

 so that it may look behind it while the bill is buried. 

 And it has a quiet trick of stamping to put consternation 

 into the worms' hearts. 



PERHAPS the humblest member of the reedbed's choir 

 is the reed-bunting, that contributes only 

 Voices of two or three notes, but does so with praise- 

 the Reeds worthy, if somewhat stammering, persis- 

 tence, as he perches near his nest on some 

 swaying reed ; time and again he seems to be crying the 

 words, " Don't hurt me! " The cock is an ornament of 

 the choir, with his black cap, white collar, and finch- 

 like bill. He is proud of his nest, of reeds, grass and 

 moss, delicately lined with hair or reed-flowers, and of 

 the handsome, purple-blotched eggs. A good-hearted 

 bird, he shares his mate's building labours, and takes 

 his turn in brooding the chicks. 



TO THE WEST 



ONE pleasure of going into the far West country is the 



chance of seeing a buzzard soaring and 



A Farmer's floating in its stately, buoyant, eagle-like 



Friend way, or displaying a gift of hovering almost 



83 



