Birds by Land and Sea 



duskier in his markings, and only less unattractive 

 than when I used occasionally to come across him 

 during the moult without his tail. What a priva- 

 tion for a wagtail to be shorn, even temporarily, 

 of that expressive member ! The yellow wagtail, 

 which had been missing for several weeks pre- 

 viously, was seen for the last time on the 23rd 

 November a soft, sunny day on the bank of the 

 Mersey. The yellow-hammer had increased in 

 numbers, and was by far the most brilliant bird then 

 with us. Small companies flitted along the hedgetops, 

 uttering a short note which had the sound of water 

 dripping upon water. The song of the corn- 

 bunting, which was resumed on the 2nd November, 

 ceased for a while after the 23rd November. I 

 scarcely expected when I entered a note to this 

 effect that it would resume singing again afterwards, 

 but such was the fact, and the bird continued to sing 

 through all but the short spells of severe weather 

 which marked the winter of 1902-3, right on into 

 spring. I saw it singing times without number, and 

 in the end desisted from taking any further notes. 



The frost continuing for a week, the kestrel was 

 evidently hard up for a meal, for I met the bird at 

 Old Trafford, and in a place (Seymour Grove) where 

 the fields cease and give place to a thickly populated 

 part of the outskirts of Manchester. I was walk- 

 ing down the Grove when I caught sight of the 

 kestrel about twenty yards above the hedge on the 

 right-hand side of the Grove. It was just in the 



