92 IN A CHESHIRE GARDEN 



something of the same kind on a small scale 

 going on. 



In June, 1901, when the river-bed had been 

 further filled up and the pools transformed 

 into a muddy swamp, we were able from our 

 windows to watch a brood of peewit chicks 

 from the time when they were first hatched 

 until they were old enough to go out into the 

 world. They were most interesting when as 

 quite little things with backs the colour of 

 the eggs they had left, they busily hunted 

 about for food, or all crowded together under 

 the wings of their mother for short spells of 

 rest and warmth. 



Snipe breed in the Bollin meadows, and 

 common sandpipers were always by the river 

 and the river-bed as long as there was any 

 water at all in it, always at least in August. 

 They still seem to remember their old haunts, 

 and visit us occasionally. In the latter part 

 of August, 1910, there was one that had some 

 feathers out of place in one of its wings and 

 appeared unable to fly. He seemed content 

 enough and I wondered if he would try to 

 face the winter here, but whether by his own 

 act and deed, or by someone else's, he had 

 gone when I looked for him in September. 

 In August, 1911, a sandpiper used to fre- 

 quent a pit in fields a good way from the 

 river. 



In April and May, 1910, a pair of red- 

 shanks were constantly to be seen in the 



