ROUND ABOUT THE HOMESTEADS. 25 



with the species that roosted in them. Even now 

 I can recall, across the wide space of vanished 

 years, the pockets well filled with Wrens and 

 Tits and GREENFINCHES, which after a minute 

 examination were always allowed to wing their 

 way unharmed ; for I could never bring myself to 

 take a mean advantage of them, and drag them 

 from their cosy beds to kill them, even though 

 specimens at the time were badly wanted. Many 

 other birds, especially in winter, make their 

 appearance round the homesteads ; but as these 

 are wanderers from their usual habitats, we must 

 refrain from noticing them until we meet them at 

 home in our future rambles. 



