40 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XXII. 



merit I could easily get within thirty yards of them, 

 but I prefer watching them a little while with my 

 glass. The buck has got the wind of me now, and 

 starting up, looks quickly round, and then bounds 

 up the steep brae to where the doe and fawn are 

 standing, and after the whole party have halted on 

 the top for a minute to reconnoitre me, they all 

 bound off again into the densest part of the thicket. 



As I approach home, and the evening comes on, 

 different small flocks of wild -ducks pass with 

 whistling pinion over my head, on their way to some 

 well-known stubble. The barley-fields appear to 

 be their favourite feeding ground at this season, 

 probably because there is always more barley left 

 on the ground than any other kind of grain. 



The ferryman at the river where I pass tells me 

 that he "is thinking that I have had a long travel, 

 but that I have not got much ven-ni-son" In both 

 surmises he is not far wrong, but I have enjoyed 

 my long and rough walk as much — ay, and much 

 more — than I should have done the best battue in 

 Norfolk, or the best day's grouse-shooting in Perth- 

 shire. But it is time I should finish my chapter : 

 we all become prosy when talking of our favourite 

 pursuits. 



' ' Navita de ventis, de tauris narrat arator, 

 Enumerat miles vulnera, pastor oves : " 



