THE SHORT-EARED OWL. 19 



just beginning to get a little cold. In the cover 

 through which we passed, the leaves had already 

 changed colour, and the squirrels in their passage 

 aloft sent down a thick shower to strew the ground, 

 over which in turn the rabbits rustled as they 

 scampered away at our approach. Anon we heard 

 the Green Woodpecker with his loud laughing cry, 

 and stayed so long to watch his vigorous blows 

 upon the old beech, that we had almost forgotten 

 that our object in leaving home was "shooting." 

 It was just about the time for the Woodcocks to 

 arrive, and we were anxious to meet " the first cock 

 of the season," and give him a warm reception. 

 Passing out of the cover and crossing a stream, we 

 found ourselves upon an open waste covered with 

 two species of heath and the spongy sphagnum. A 

 more promising spot could not be found. The 

 Woodcocks, if arrived, would be sure to leave the 

 cover in the evening to feed along the stream, and 

 would doubtless remain out all night. Partridges 

 would surely be lower down among the dry heather, 

 and very possibly we might find a Jack Snipe or 

 two, for we have known the last-named to arrive as 

 early as the 2d of October. Inserting a couple of 



