66 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



the fields to the farmyards, and during corn 

 harvest they are strewn with much scattered grain 

 which has fallen from the waggons as they jolted 

 along the deep ruts, or has been brushed from the 

 piled-up loads by the branches of the trees over- 

 head or the long hedge-twigs at the side. Here 

 such species as GREENFINCHES, BUNTINGS, and 

 CHAFFINCHES may be seen hopping about picking 

 up the unusual feast. Then again, the hedges 

 round the corn lands always swarm with birds, 

 not necessarily those that breed in them, but birds 

 that have been enticed thither by the abundance of 

 food in the adjoining fields. Here, as we wander 

 along, we may startle vast flocks of SPARROWS 

 and Greenfinches from the wheat and oats, 

 and they all alight in fluttering hosts upon the 

 hedges, ready to fly down again into the corn 

 the moment we are gone. Many farmers take 

 good care to cut their hedges as bare as possible, 

 as well as all the lower branches of the trees, so 

 that they shall not harbour the birds so much ; 

 for it is notorious that most of the damage done 

 in the corn-fields by birds is for a few yards round 

 the hedges, in which the little pilferers can hide 

 or take refuge when alarmed. In winter the 

 hedges are least frequented by birds, especially 

 those that are bare and much exposed. It is only 

 as resting-places that most birds use them then, 

 when flying to and from the fields, or as fleeting 

 haunts by day in their search for food ; so that 

 these places become the most interesting in spring, 

 and remain so as long as they retain their verdure. 

 The SPARROW HAWK must be alluded to as a 

 frequent passer along the hedges, snatching the 



