THE MARITIME DISTRICT 241 



winds. But throughout, the climate is remarkably 

 mild, even in the widest part between the downs 

 and the promontory of Selsey Bill. In January, after 

 walking from Harting over downs Avhite with half 

 frozen snow, when a furious north-east wind was 

 blowing, I came to Selsey, and found a different 

 climate. There was no snow on the green fields and 

 muddy roads ; the wind was light and not unplea- 

 santly cold, and thrushes, hedge-sparrows, and wrens 

 were singing. 



A few miles from Chichester, on an arm of the 

 sea, which at low water is mostly a mud-flat, there 

 is a parish and village of Birdham, or Bridham. This 

 birds' home doubtless acquired its name in early 

 Saxon times, on account of the great numbers of sea 

 and water fowl that resorted to the spot in winter; 

 and Chichester harbour is still a favourite haunt of 

 water-fowl in severe weather. But the entire mari- 

 time district is a Birdham in winter : the mild climate, 

 everlasting verdure, abundance of food and water, and 

 a sparse human population make it indeed an ideal 

 wintering-place for many birds that have their breed- 

 ing haunts on the hills and other exposed districts 

 throughout the country. 



Rooks and starlings are excessively abundant. It 

 is a wonder how any grub can escape their prying 

 eyes and busy prodding beaks. On some favourite 

 feeding-grounds the surface is often covered with 

 grass and moss plucked up by them to get at the 



