NATURE NEAR LONDON 



seem to flap together. The effect of such a vast 

 body of white-breasted birds uprising as one from 

 the dark ploughed earth was very remarkable. 



When they passed overhead the air sang like the 

 midsummer hum with the shrill noise of beating 

 wings. When they wheeled a light shot down re- 

 flected from their white breasts, so that people 

 involuntarily looked up to see what it could be. 

 The sun shone on them, so that at a distance the 

 flock resembled a cloud brilliantly illuminated. In 

 an instant they turned and the cloud was dark- 

 ened. Such a great flock had not been seen in that 

 district in the memory of man. 



There did not seem any reason for their con- 

 gregating in this manner, unless it was the mild- 

 ness of the winter, but winters had been mild 

 before without such a display. The birds as a 

 mass rarely left this one particular field they 

 voyaged round in the air and settled again in the 

 same place. Some few used to spend hours with 

 the sheep in a meadow, remaining there till dusk, 

 till the mist hid them, and their cry sounded afar 

 in the gloom. They stayed all through the winter, 

 breaking up as the spring approached. By March 

 the great flock had dispersed. 



The winter was very mild. There were butter- 

 cups, avens, and white nettles in flower on De- 

 cember 3 ist. On January yth, there were briar buds 

 -184- 



