THE WILDERNESS 201 



just escaped with its life by scampering up the bole of a giant 

 tree, where, in the large growth of a witches'-broom, it was able 

 to take cover until the danger that threatened had passed. 



Swallows and Martins pursue their aerial course the whole 

 day long, taking toll of the insect life that abounds in the wilder- 

 ness as a corollary of the luxuriance of the vegetation. The 

 former nest in the water tower of the mansion, and dart with 

 unerring aim through the lead lights where the glass is vacant. 

 As one stands watching them, it is astonishing to notice the ease 

 and facility with which ingress is obtained, and pleasant to reflect 

 that these harbingers of Summer are increasing their numbers 

 here year by year. 



A Blue Tit has a cosy nest and eggs in one of the nesting boxes 

 put up for the birds, but the Linnet prefers to choose one of the 

 yew hedges as a nesting site. Sometimes the Blackcap shows 

 a partiality for small holly bushes in the coppice adjoining the 

 wilderness, surely an unfamiliar nesting haunt, and, amid the 

 broad leaves of the sycamore, the rarer Garden Warbler delights 

 to wander, pouring out meanwhile its little varied, but beautiful, 

 song. He who has not heard a Garden Warbler sing at its best 

 has yet to make acquaintance with one of the finest British song- 

 birds the wilderness shelters. 



FIG. 83. GOLDFINCH. 



