290 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



many others seen), Green Woodpecker (laughing in the woods), 

 Great Tit (uttering two notes for all the world resembling its name), 

 Nuthatch, Ring Dove, Jackdaw, Partridge (many coveys put up), 

 Pheasant, Jay (sporting in some tall Elms, but never a good sight 

 could we get of this restless creature), Greenfinch, Lapwing (a flock 

 of about twenty seen), Coal Tit, Bullfinch, and Yellow Bunting 

 (mostly silent now). The cold snap seems to have re-animated bird 

 life, and we have not spent such a pleasant morning amongst our 

 friends the birds for a considerable time past. 



How the white tail feathers of the Lark show as the bird is 

 settling; we have hardly noted this before another soars heavenwards, 

 a little Wren starts "clicking," the Rooks are busy "cawing," and the 

 Chaffinch "pinking." 



GUINEA FOWLS AT HOME. 



When the air is clear, what a distance away one can hear a 

 waterfall. On reaching it, we notice some hundreds of young Dace ; 

 what a banquet, indeed, for some voracious Pike, but here it is a Trout 

 stream, and the fresh water Shark is kept down as far as is possible. 

 By the river are many Willows, and we watch the leaves being cut by 

 King Frost, and falling into the water either to float down towards the 

 mill wheel, or sink into a cold bed at the bottom. 



Walking up a green lane a Hare startled us by rushing right 



