FARMING AND EOTATION OF CROPS. 77 



there are no surface spiingSj brooks, nor rivorsj the 

 artificial comj^osition impregnates tlic stagnant rain 

 or soak water left on tlie surface sufficiently to 

 interfere with the young and tender brood, and to 

 thwart the old birds rearing them to perfection. 



There is another fact that I have observed in 

 regard to the '' golden plover." I am aware of 

 sites to whicli these birds resorted as sure as the 

 winter came on, for they frequented a farm over 

 which I hold the preservation and killing of the 

 game, and one of its broad fields at certain periods 

 was never without a few golden plover — sometimes 

 more, sometimes less ; but during winter there they 

 assuredly were. Of latter years these birds have 

 been gradually diminishing, and from their numbers 

 becoming less and less, they have at last entirely 

 failed. 



Again, there is another fact patent to my obser- 

 vation : there are some seeds that the wood-pigeons 

 eat, that when given by the old birds to tlieir 

 young, turns the flesh of the half-fledged birds 

 black, and eventually destroys them. Now, in the 

 earlier parts of my life, this sort of thing never 

 happened; and as nothing can happen without a 

 cause or reason, why is it, in these years of 



