578 A FEW AUTUMN NOTES. 



This winter, which made its appearance with such sudden- 

 ness and severity, was trying to the birds, and Crows, 

 Crested Larks, Buntings, and Finches were to be seen 

 seeking a scanty subsistence among the villages. 



During the thaw which swept away all the snow with such 

 rapidity I observed large flocks of Jackdaws on the neigh- 

 bouring fields and the towers of the town ; but now. in the 

 middle of December, there are but few of them. 



The recommencement of the snow, accompanied by sharp 

 cold, drove the birds that were dispersed among the fields 

 and bushes into the roads of the villages and the gardens of 

 the town, so that even in the middle of Prague I saw Gold- 

 crests, Tits, Goldfinches, Yellow Hammers, Chaffinches, 

 Greater Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, the last-mentioned 

 bird looking for insects on the wall of a house. This second 

 and very unexpected heavy fall, which lay a foot deep over 

 everything, seemed fraught with much danger to the animal 

 world, for the Partridges behaved as they usually only do in 

 the depth of a severe winter, and sat huddled together on the 

 road, allowing people to go close to them, while those shot 

 just now are excessively thin, being mere skin and bone. 



