86 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



and summer the air above the fields is thronged 

 with birds of the Swallow tribe with HOUSE 

 MARTINS and BARN SWALLOWS. Yes, there they 

 are from dawn to sunset, skimming to and fro 

 above the meadow grass, or up and down the 

 pastures, now over this field, now over that, in 

 and out, and round about the grazing cattle, 

 or fleeting over the ripening grain. All the 

 spring and summer through the fields are full 

 of Swallows ; and then again, the dusky, scythe- 

 winged SWIFTS hawk above the herbage, or 

 career to and fro on never-tiring wings in the 

 higher air, ever and anon screeching forth their 

 piercing notes, sounding full of their impetuous 

 happiness. Many of the wet pastures and higher 

 stubbles are the home of the LAPWING, which 

 even breeds upon the fields, and often in autumn 

 congregates in flocks thereon. Then, as the 

 autumn days draw on, vast flights of Finches 

 make their appearance on the clover-fields and 

 weedy pastures. There may the charming GOLD- 

 FINCH be seen, clinging to the thistle-heads in the 

 old meadow, scattering the downy seeds to the 

 winds, as it adroitly poises on the fluffy crowns, 

 and picks away right heartily to reach the much- 

 prized fare. Or parties of BRAMBLINGS descend 

 upon the grass lands where manure is being 

 spread ; and as likely as not the gay CHAFFINCH 

 and the stranger REDWING are among the com- 

 pany. At the same season, too, the old stubbles 

 which have been sown down with clover are the 

 haunt of the charming little REDPOLE, one of the 

 tamest and most trustful of birds, now in flocks, 

 allowing you to watch its actions in searching 



