298 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



scattered over so many broad acres miles of arable 

 land being open to them. 



But the migration from the hedgerows was very 

 marked. They became quite empty and silent about 

 the middle of September. This state of things con- 

 tinued for little more than a week meaning the 

 absolute silence then a bird or two appeared in 

 places at long intervals. They now came back rapidly, 

 till, on the 28th, the " fink, chink " of the finches 

 sounded almost as merrily as before. The green- 

 finches flew from tree to tree in parties of four, six, 

 or more, calling to each other in their happy, confi- 

 dential way. On that day the trees and hedges seemed 

 to become quite populous again with finches. The 

 sparrows, too, were busy in the roads once more. 

 For a week previously every now and then a single 

 lark might be heard singing for a few minutes : they 

 had been silent before. On the 28th half a dozen 

 could be heard singing at once, and now and then a 

 couple might be seen chasing each other as if full of 

 gaiety. It was indeed almost like a second spring : at 

 the same time a few buttercups bloomed, to add to the 

 illusion. 



This migration of the finches from the hedgerows 

 out into the fields, and their coming back, is very 

 striking. It may possibly be connected with the 

 phenomenon of " packing ; " for they seem to go 

 away by twos and threes, to disappear gradually, but 

 to return almost all at once, and in parties or flocks. 

 The number in the flocks varies a great deal : it is 



