NATURE NEAR LONDON ys^= 



come underneath and pick up those that have 

 fallen. 



The partridge coveys are more numerous and 

 larger than they have been for several seasons, and 

 though shooting has now been practised for more 

 than a fortnight, as many as twelve and seventeen 

 are still to be counted together. They have more 

 cover than usual at this season, not only because 

 the harvest is still about, but because where cut the 

 stubble is so full of weeds that when crouching 

 they are hidden. In some fields the weeds are so 

 thick that even a pheasant can hide. 



South of London the harvest commenced in the 

 last week of July. The stubble that was first cut 

 still remains unploughed ; it is difficult to find a 

 fresh furrow, and I have only once or twice heard 

 the quick strong puffing of the steam-plough. 

 While the wheat was in shock it was a sight to 

 see the wood-pigeons at it. Flocks of hundreds 

 came perching on the sheaves, and visiting the 

 same field day after day. The sparrows have 

 never had such a feast of grain as this year. 

 Whole corners of wheatfields they work more 

 at corners were cleared out as clean by them as 

 if the wheat had been threshed as it stood. 



The sunshine of the autumn afternoons is faintly 

 tawny, and the long grass by the wayside takes 

 from it a tawny undertone. Some other colour 

 172 



