1 86 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



with the owner of the gibbet which is illustrated. It clearly 

 proves the extent to which so-called vermin is persecuted. Keep- 

 ers will not look at both sides of the question and sum up the 

 balance, which is generally on the right side. 



A few Rabbits run out here and there, and a Jay utters its 

 shrieking alarm note, whilst a female Pheasant got up abruptly. 



Onwards we proceed, until on the outskirts of the wood the 

 river meets our eye. Skimming over its surface the Swallow and 

 the Martin were to be seen, and three or four Sand Martins the 

 smallest of the Swallow tribe did not escape my attention. 

 Several fine Trout were to be observed in the stream, and I 

 understand that for two miles hereabouts there are as many 

 of these fish as anywhere else in England. 



Swifts wheel round in a circle and sing the while it is not 

 at all an unpleasant note a Thrush makes the woods re-echo 

 with its sweet music, and the Wren again takes up his wonted 

 station and sings with increased vivacity and power. The Corn 

 is a delicious green and well up: let us look forward in joy 

 and hope for a good harvest. 



As we wend our way through fields of Corn and Clover, the 

 Rooks fly homewards ; the village church bells commence to toll 

 for evensong; the Bat is thinking of commencing its night prowls, 

 and the Owls are well aware of the fact that their day is fast 

 approaching. Talking of Owls reminds me that during the 

 ramble I was shown three young Long-Eared Owls. Their 

 great yellow and black eyes were very prominent, and although 

 it was still light they could see plainly enough. As good luck 

 would have it a mouse was in the trap, and after killing it one 

 of the birds made short work of it, bolting the lot wholesale. 

 He ejected the well known pellet to make room for the mouse, 

 and the evident satisfaction after the tasty rodent had departed 

 was indeed a striking picture. The Owls are much wiser than 

 most people imagine ; at any rate they look after their voracious 

 appetites pretty frequently, which is wisdom. 



