THE STONE CURLEW OR THICK-KNEE 11 



that it comes out in the gloaming ; but it can be 

 seen in the daytime if searched for in the most 

 circumspect manner. 



There is no hard-and-fast rule relating to wild 

 creatures of crepuscular habits. The Brown Owl, for 

 instance, spreads himself out like a feather screen for 

 a warm air-bath, and he thoroughly enjoys it, 

 although the sun is shining not only bright but hotly. 

 I have seen him do it, not once but often. And the 

 bats, the Noctule particularly, will hawk for insects 

 with the swallows over the woodland roads in the 

 latter part of a bright afternoon in early autumn ; 

 five o'clock is early for the beginning of the season. 

 As to the fox and badger, they will at times draw 

 very close, if you are near their haunts and they do 

 not wind you. If a fox goes by you, rest assured 

 you have learnt the art of keeping quiet. 



It is the same with birds ; you can study them at 

 liberty if you can keep quiet, which some are not 

 able to do. It is best to go alone, if you can lie 

 stretched out in the ferns, your chin supported by 

 your hand to raise the head a little, your hat off; 

 and if you can bear a couple of stout flies at the 

 back of your neck. 



When under such circumstances as these I have 

 seen what I crawled in there to see, I have after- 

 wards jumped up in the most active manner, and 

 have said all one could say on the subject to oneself, 

 in the most emphatic manner possible. 



Not a sound, not even the faint tinkle-tinkle of a 

 sheep-bell falls on the ear ; church spires and hamlets, 



