284 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR, CH. XX. 



quietly round the hedgerows, and banks exposed to 

 the sun, or in dry soiled turnip-fields, during the 

 middle of the day, when the birds come to bask 

 and scratch. Both partridges and hares stick close 

 to standing corn as long as an acre of it remains. 



In this country, however, the wild-fowl and other 

 birds which frequent the shores and rocks always 

 afford me as amusing sport as the best partridge- 

 shooting; and at this season there is always a 

 constant and endless variety of migratory birds 

 collecting previous to their departure. 



There is one very numerous class of birds, the 

 sandpipers and others of the same kind, which are 

 very little known. Even the best and most quoted 

 authors of works on natural history are constantly 

 in error with regard to the names and classification 

 of these birds, and although I do not pretend to be 

 acquainted with all, or nearly all, the varieties, I 

 know enough of them to perceive that the numerous 

 changes of plumage which each species goes 

 through, according to their age, sex, and the season 

 of the year, have completely misled most naturalists. 

 Indeed to know these birds perfectly requires much 

 greater attention and more minute examination than 

 has yet been expended upon them. Such also is the 

 case as regards sea-gulls, and some kinds of hawks, 

 though with these the difficulty is not so great. 



