i6o WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



timber oak, such as are sawn up into posts for field 

 gateways were left leaning half against the garden 

 wall, half against the house, just under the window. 

 There they have remained (there is never any hurry 

 about things in the country) so long that the moss 

 has begun to encase the lower portions. What with 

 the projecting thatch, the thick ivy, the timber thrown 

 carelessly beneath, the lichen-grown garden wall, and 

 a large bush of lilac in the angle, the place could hardly 

 be more quiet, and is consequently a favourite resort 

 of the birds. 



Within reach from the window the swallows have 

 their nests, and the sparrows their holes, on the right 

 hand ; within reach on the left hand, among the 

 ivy, the water-wagtail has built her nest year after 

 year. The wagtail may always be seen about the 

 place now in the cowyards among the cattle, now 

 in the rickyard, and even close to the door of the 

 dwelling-house, especially frequenting the courtyard 

 in front of the dairy. As he flies he rises up and 

 then sinks again, in a succession of undulations, now 

 spreading the tail out and now closing it. On the 

 ground he generally alights near water ; he is con- 

 tinually jerking the tail up and down. 



One spring a cuckoo came to this nest in the ivy 

 close to the casement ; she was seen flying near the 

 house several times, and, being observed to visit the 

 ivy-covered gable, was finally traced to the wagtail's 

 nest. For several days in succession, and several 

 times a day, the cuckoo came, and would doubtless 



