AMONG THE BIRDS IN AUTUMN. 175 



" rushes " often making their appearance in 

 districts where food chances to be plentiful. 



The turnip-fields are also replete with bird 

 life now. In early morning, as we wander knee- 

 deep among the broad, green leaves, all wet with 

 dew, we flush great numbers of Song Thrushes and 

 " Stormcocks," which visit these places for the 

 slugs and worms ; whilst nearer the hedges the 

 Blackbird rises up with noisy clamour, and the 

 Hedge Sparrow flits off to the nearest cover. 

 Where the turnips have partly failed and a bare 

 patch of ground occurs, especially if it be at all 

 swampy, we are sure to meet with the Meadow Pipit, 

 which flits about and perches on the leaves, 

 uttering its plaintive note ; and in places where 

 the crop is thickest we may by chance flush a 

 Short-eared Owl, a stray Woodcock, or a Land- 

 rail which has not yet left its summer haunts. Se P tember - 

 The Short-eared Owl and the Woodcock both 

 come to this country in great numbers every 



October to 



,1 T^r cto 



autumn, arriving on our coasts together. 1 hey i 5 th 

 migrate at night, sometimes in scattered parties or 

 pairs, sometimes in great rushes, according to the 

 state of the weather. The Owls when they reach 

 land generally make for the nearest turnip-fields, 

 hiding themselves under the broad, green leaves ; 

 but the Woodcocks, most solitary of birds, scatter 

 the moment they reach land, and shelter for a day 

 in the tangled hedge bottoms among the crumpled 

 russet leaves, or nestle in the fringe of long, 

 coarse grass behind the beach. 



