INTRODUCTION. 3 



Whitethroat comes suddenly into view, and, poised 

 for an instant upon a topmost spray, stands out 

 against the sky, a very picture for soft colouring 

 and graceful outline. Near the farmstead on a 

 bough overhanging the rickyard sits the Green- 

 finch, giving forth its monotonous though not 

 unpleasant call -note, occasionally dropping down 

 amongst the Sparrows to share a meal with them. 

 Hard by a pair of Robins have decided upon a nest 

 in the woodstack, where for the last two years they 

 have successfully reared their young. From the 

 leafy branches of an elm is heard the spring song 

 of the Chaffinch, whose conspicuous colours and 

 active habits do not suffer him to remain long 

 unrecognised. 



Anon the scene changes. The summer has 

 passed away, and with it many of those feathered 

 visitors whose presence for so many months en- 

 livened our groves and garden. Chill October 

 has come, and we are standing, gun in hand, by 

 the cover side watching the falling leaves, and 

 listening for the whirr of wings which betokens 

 the rising of a Pheasant. But the beaters are a 

 long way off yet ; we can scarcely hear the sound 



