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to remain in the lane all the year through. I have seen 

 them there very early in the morning, and late in the evening, 

 and suspect that of all small birds they are the first to rise 

 and the last to retire. A bold and valorous bird is the 

 Wren. To some of his deeds of daring I have been a witness. 

 Often is he seen perched on the highest twig in the hedge, 

 with bill extended to the utmost, pouring out his shrill 

 treble. That such a volume of sound should proceed from 

 such a tiny object is wonderful. Undisturbed by noisy 

 traffic or juvenile foes the birds in my lane are 

 comparatively tame, and apparently take little heed of my 

 presence. One feathered visitor, however, seems to have a 

 decided objection to my intrusion. The crested lapwings, 

 which in spring and summer take possession of the fields, 

 on each side, continually cross and recross the road, and 

 utter unceasingly their querulous " peewits." 



But few quadrupeds are to be found in the lane. 

 Occasionally a Squirrel is seen, perhaps frightened from the 

 Larch Planting not far off, or it may be on a foraging 

 expedition. When disturbed, it runs along the hedge with 

 such surprising agility that it is difficult to get a good sight 

 of it. If less hunted and persecuted these innocent and 

 beautiful creatures would, no doubt, become much tamer, 

 and impart great pleasure in exhibiting their rapid and 

 graceful motions. 



Sometimes, on a summer's evening, a solitary traveller 

 may be met with in the shape of a Hedgehog. On such 

 occasions he is generally trotting along at the apparent rate 

 of four or five miles an hour it may be on a visit to 

 a friendly neighbour, or on the way from his day's sleeping 

 quarters to his night's feeding ground. The food of the 



