CHAPTER V 



A WOOD WREN AT WELLS 



EAST of Wells Cathedral, close to the moat sur- 

 rounding the bishop's palace, there is a beautifully 

 wooded spot, a steep slope, where the birds had 

 their headquarters. There was much to attract 

 them there : sheltered by the hill behind, it was 

 a warm corner, a wooded angle, protected by high 

 old stone walls, dear to the redstart, masses of 

 ivy, and thickets of evergreens ; while outside 

 the walls were green meadows and running water. 

 When going out for a walk I always passed through 

 this wood, lingering a little in it ; and when I 

 wanted to smoke a pipe, or have a lazy hour to 

 myself among the trees, or sitting in the sun, I 

 almost invariably made for this favourite spot. 

 At different hours of the day I was a visitor, and 

 there I heard the first spring migrants on their 

 arrival chiff-chaff, willow wren, cuckoo, redstart, 

 blackcap, white-throat. Then, when April was 

 drawing to an end, I said, There are no more to 

 come. For the wryneck, lesser white-throat, and 



