252 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



free to build and breed unharmed and undisturbed,* 

 though in my new home I am fortunate in being 

 surrounded by an even greater variety of feathered 

 friends. 



The river runs within a few yards of my house, 

 and the moor-hens, which come out to feed in 

 the moonlight, splash about almost at my door. 

 At the present time of year (May) they are espe- 

 cially clamorous. Some two or three nights ago 

 I stood in front of the house listening to them, 

 and such a medley of sounds I have rarely heard 

 inland. In addition to the moor-hens, which 

 were literally shrieking in a way I have never 

 before experienced, a corn crake w r as croaking in 

 the water-meadows beyond the river, some plover 

 were screaming over their nests, a sedge warbler 

 was chattering away, and at intervals the song of 

 a nightingale was audible from a distant copse. 

 The moon was shining bright and clear, and 

 where the surface of the water was broken by the 

 long, trailing river-weeds as they rose and fell 

 with the stream, it gleamed like silver ; while 

 from time to time a heavy splash and widening 

 silvery rings showed where the trout were feast- 

 ing on the sedge-flies. It was a scene to be 

 remembered. 



I had occasion in a former chapter to refer to 

 the wanton destruction of kingfishers, and I have 



* I grieve to add that, since writing the above, I have re- 

 ceived information that the water-rails and kingfishers have all 

 disappeared, and but few moor-hens are left. 



