266 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



of these two species still here, the former busy skimming over the 

 meadows, the latter hunting higher in the air than its near relation), 

 House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail (several went overhead, calling as 

 usual), Starling (quite the most prominent bird about to-day. Many 

 were bathing in the road puddles, then basking in the sunlight. They 

 almost threw off their temerity, and allowed me to get quite close to 

 them. A great many large flocks of these interesting birds also seen. 

 Just now there is a greyish tinge on the breast). Rook (spotted them 

 early this morning careering over the tops of their nest trees; now 

 circling, now falling, then all off to their feeding grounds), Partridge 

 (several birds flushed), Lapwing (twos and threes, and a flock of 

 about fifty also seen. How pleasant to watch them through a good 

 glass, now seeing the dark back, now the snow-white breast, and to 

 watch their graceful flight), Yellow Bunting (put up a small flock of 

 these birds. They all flew into some Oak trees, and we soon sighted 

 them with our binoculars. The sun shining brightly on their 

 beautiful yellow and green plumage was a grand sight in which to 

 participate. Two or three were preening their feathers, and very 

 beautiful was the effect), Sparrow Hawk (it is some weeks since I saw 

 one of these birds, and it pleased me greatly to observe one te-day 

 making his way from the woods in the East. A flock of Lapwings 

 preceded him, but they seemed to take no notice of the Hawk. 

 Watching him through that indispensable pair of glasses, we notice 

 that every few yards he shoots straight along with motionless wings, 

 then opens out again. He has kept fairly straight up to now, and 

 steered a clear course, but now he is bearing considerably to the left, 

 and he doubtless saw with those wonderful eyes of his something 

 which might interest him. He is right over a hedge now it has 

 been entirely open country up to this juncture and still watching, 

 we see a flock of small birds rise as in a cloud, then scatter in all 

 directions. The Hawk does not dash at any of them, and is then lost 

 to view behind a clump of tall trees in the South-west. When I had 

 finished watching this performance my eyes were quite dazzled we 

 had followed the bold bird for some miles; and here we finish our 

 ill-constructed Hawk notes;, and Meadow Pipit (now this is the 

 second occasion only on which I have had the satisfaction of noting 

 this very interesting bird in this district. To-day I was attracted by 

 their crescendo notes uttered as they rise on the wing, something 

 like "tu-wheet, tu-wheet." They were on some ploughed land, 

 mixing up freely with the Skylarks, and looked very engaging and 

 pretty as they ran over the tops of the newly-upturned earth. There 

 were perhaps a score of them all told, and those I had a good sight 



