The Travellers 223 



sojourn for some time in our plains, a halting- 

 place rich in insects, which form the exclusive 

 fare of most of them ; they ransack every clod 

 in our fields, where the ploughshare by now has 

 laid bare in the furrows a multitude of grubs, 

 their special delight ; thanks to this diet, they 

 soon put on a fine cushion of fat, a storehouse of 

 reserve provisions for the coming exertions ; 

 and at last, supplied with this viaticum, they 

 continue their southward flight, making for the 

 winterless lands where insects are never lack- 

 ing : Spain, Southern Italy, the Mediterranean 

 islands and Africa. This is the season for brave 

 sport with the gun and for dainty roasts of 

 small birds. 



The first to arrive is the Shore-lark, or, as 

 he is called in these parts, the Crlou. August 

 is hardly here before we see him exploring the 

 pebbly fields, in search of the little seeds of 

 setaria, an ill weed that overruns our tilled soil. 

 At the least alarm he flies away with a harsh 

 clattering in his throat which is not badly 

 represented by his Proven9al name. He is 

 soon followed by the Whin-chat, who preys 

 placidly on small Weevils, Locusts, and Ants 

 in the old lucern-fields. With him begins the 

 long line of small winged things, the glory of 

 the spit. It is continued, when September 

 comes, by the most famous of them, the Common 



