OLD HEDGEROWS. 79 



friends of my younger days, made it a point to 

 search for a nest that they knew was there, but 

 which could not be found, when the leaves were off 

 the trees and hedges. Then they wondered how it 

 was possible for them to have missed it. 



Small roads or tracks can now be plainly seen, 

 where four-footed things have gone to and fro hares 

 and rabbits, as well as hedgehogs and mice. You 

 can trace all now ; before, you only heard the rustle 

 of leaves as they moved beneath them. There is 

 enough rustling too, just now, for the blackbirds 

 are picking and scratching, like so many partridges, 

 among the fallen leaves at the bottom of the still 

 dry ditch. If you startle them with a yell, out they 

 shoot, and over the hedge they go like hawks. 

 When the day is closing they will sound their clear 

 good-night notes before going to roost. Then the 

 woodcocks will come to hunt amongst the fallen 

 leaves, and will find plenty to eat there. 



A vast amount of life, varied to a degree, can be 

 found in and about our beautiful English hedge- 

 rows. 



