4 COUNTRY RAMBLES 



unearthed, or perchance some hapless Sparrow was the finder, and the 

 Starlings the partakers of the dainty morsel. Is not that a Great 

 Titmouse making a noise in the hedgerow across the road? Looking 

 over the hedge we put up a nice flock of Golden Plovers and a few 

 Lapwings. Are not the former attractive in their delicate silver 

 plumage, as ihey wheel now to left, now to right, and the light rests 

 now underneath, now above theml Verily, though such a bleak 

 morning, it has interested us not a little to take a note or two of the 

 Avian life astir. I watched a pair of Nuthatches hewing out a hole 

 for nesting purposes. Surely, a very early start, and they were in a 

 great state of commotion when I disturbed them. 



A good many well-loaded Holly trees still to be seen, also berries 

 of the Mountain Ash, but these latter are now in a very soddened 

 condition. The network of the trees, as looked at through a field 

 glass, is very wonderful at this season, and now that there is no foliage 

 on the trees it is very interesting to watch the Rooks at their nest 

 trees. First Bulb through in my garden to-day and a few Gnats 

 flying about when the sun was out. 



6th. House Sparrows in the garden as usual after suet and 

 crumbs placed there for them. Three Starlings came, too, and made 

 short work of the suet They then turned their attention to "grubbing" 

 about, and I watched them through my glasses. How beautiful the 

 speckled plumage ! One of them dibbed up a large Worm and eat it. 

 Weather very open; wind springing up, giving place later to rain. 

 I saw a bird last Sunday (December 31st, 1899), and four the day 

 previous, flying over my house at St. Albans, Herts, about size Field- 

 fares, ochre breasts, some white on wings. Made "gurgling noise," 

 well sustained flight. My friend, Dr. Greene, says they might have 

 been American Robins escaped from confinement. I do not think 

 this at all likely. What were they? Robin and Skylark still silent. 



8th. Blue Tit, House Sparrow, and Starliug all appeared simult- 

 aneously on my Victoria Plum tree and stayed some time in perfect 

 agreement. 



14th. Greenfinch, several Starlings, and Sparrows (House) on 

 refuse heap in front of my house, and several Rooks dibbing about 

 on the ploughed land. Very frosty and cold. Nature still sits tight. 



16th. The Robin re-assumed its song to-day. It is some weeks 

 since I heard it. Frost gone again. Raining. Last night very wide 

 circle round the moon. As one gets about the country, the sights and 

 sounds to be seen and heard are many and various. In an old market 



