The Yantle. 141 



case, it should indicate a close connection with the 

 Redstarts, the young of which resemble the young 

 Robin also in the mottled brown of the rest of 

 their plumage. 



Our meadows are liable to flood occasionally in 

 the winter, and also in a summer wetter than 

 usual. One stormy day in July, some years ago, 

 I espied two common Gulls standing in the water 

 of a slight flood, apparently quite at home. But 

 our Rooks found them out, and considering the 

 Yantle sacred to themselves and such small birds 

 as they might be graciously pleased to allow there, 

 proceeded to worry them by flying round and 

 round above them incessantly until the poor birds 

 were fain to depart. Rooks are very hostile to 

 intruders, and quite capable of continued teasing ; 

 I have watched them for a whole morning per- 

 secuting a Kestrel. No sooner did the Kestrel 

 alight on the ground than the Rooks 'went for 

 it,' and drove it away ; and wherever it went they 

 pursued it, backwards and forwards, over a space 

 of two or three miles. 



In winter the floods will sometimes freeze. 

 One very cold day, as I was about to cross the 



