i 7 4 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



of " jugging " in the grass-fields, repairing to the 

 stubbles and turnips to feed. This pretty little 

 game bird very often sleeps upon the stubbles, 

 the covey forming into a circle each bird with 

 head pointing outwards, so that danger is more 

 readily detected from whichever direction it may 

 approach. The rings of droppings unerringly 

 proclaim these roosting-places. Large flocks of 

 Sparrows and Greenfinches also frequent the 

 stubbles to feed on the scattered grain ; and 

 where the fields have been sown down with clover, 

 we are sure to meet with the Skylark in abundance. 

 The Yellow Bunting may often be seen on the 

 hedges, especially near the gateways and in the 

 lanes where the bushes on either side almost meet 

 overhead. Here great numbers of straws become 

 lodged, brushed from the waggons as the corn is 

 carried through them ; and these little birds are busy 

 picking out the grain, sometimes fluttering for a 

 moment before a full ear then bearing it to the 

 ground. The Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves, 

 Wild Geese and Ducks also come to the stubbles 

 for their share of the corn. I often linger towards 

 evening and watch the wild Pigeons seek their 

 roosting-place. At this season they love to sleep 

 in the fir plantations, coming from the corn-fields 

 in twos and threes and little parties, and settling 

 among the dark green branches with a noisy 

 nights of rattle of their wings. Our resident Wood Pigeons 



Wood . S , . . 



pigeons are largely increased m numbers in the autumn 



arrive, 25th . 



October, by migratory birds from the Continent, great 



