3io WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



to sing. The great docks that grow beside the ditches 

 are visited by the tomtits, who perch on them: the 

 stalk of the dock is strong and supports so light a 

 weight easily. Sparrows may sometimes be seen in 

 July hawking in the air just above the sward by the 

 roadside hovering like the kestrel, a foot or so high, 

 and then suddenly dropping like stones : they are 

 then so absorbed that they will scarcely fly awa}' 

 on your approach. At the same time a rather long 

 red fly is abundant in the grass, and may be the 

 attraction. The swift's long narrow wings shut behind 

 him as if with a sharp snip, cutting the air like shears ; 

 and then, holding them extended, he glides like a quoit. 



In old days men used to be on the watch about the 

 time of the great race meetings, in order to shoot at 

 every pigeon that went past, in hope of finding a 

 message attached to the bird, and so getting the 

 advantage of early intelligence. In one such case I 

 heard of, the pigeon had the name of the winner, and 

 was shot on a tree where it had alighted, weary from 

 want of food or uncertain as to its course. 



The golden-crested wren smallest of the birds 

 scarcely ever leaves the shelter of the hedges and 

 trees. The crest or top-knot is not exactly golden, 

 but rather orange ; and as the body of the tiny crea- 

 ture is dusky in hue, the bright colour on its head 

 shines like flame in contrast. By this ruddy lamp 

 upon its head the wren may be discovered hidden 

 deep in the intricate mazes of the thorn bushes, where 

 otherwise it would be difficult to find it. These wrens 



