158 Journeys of the Finches. 



it is a hollow space arched over and roofed with 

 boughs. Now this hedge is a favorite highway of 

 birds aud other wild creatures, and leads direct to 

 the orchard. Most of the visitors to the house and 

 garden come down it it is one of their caravan 

 routes. 



If on a summer's morning you go and sit in the 

 gateway about half-waj' up the hedge, partly hidden 

 by a pollard ash and great hawthorn bushes, you will 

 not have long to wait before you hear the pleasant 

 calls of the greenfinches coming. They seem always 

 to travel two or more pairs together, and constantly 

 utter a soothing call, as if to say to their companions, 

 ' Here we are, close by, dearest.' They all appear to 

 know exactly where they are going flitting across 

 the gateway one by one, moving of one accord in the 

 same direction ; and their contented notes gradually 

 become inaudible as they go towards the orchard. 

 The goldfinches use the same route ; so do the bull- 

 finches. Even the starlings, before they come to the 

 house, usually perch on an ash tree in this hedge. 



There is another hedge, running parallel to it, 

 one hundred and fifty yards distant, the end of 

 which also approaches the premises, but it is com- 

 paratively deserted. You may wait there in vain 

 and see nothing but a robin. 



By the same caravan route the blackbirds come to 

 the garden ; they, however, are not such travelling 

 birds as the finches. But the tomtits are : they 

 work their way from tree to tree for miles ; they 

 also come to the orchard by this hedge highway. 

 As I have said before, it abuts on the orchard ; and 

 a straight line carried across to. the orchard wall, 



