Seeds and Sowers 267 



in new situations by these birds. Walnut shells 

 are often found strewn on the crests of the downs 

 among the acorn shreds ; but these are split too 

 cleanly for the rooks' rough, though powerful 

 bills, and have probably been dropped by roaming 

 boys. They, too, hunt from copse to hedgerow 

 for autumn seeds and berries, like the squirrels 

 and thrushes ; but human intelligence works with 

 a deadlier grasp, and few of the nuts and black- 

 berries which they gather escape to shoot in new 

 soil. 



The holly berries which shine in winter sunlight 

 form for certain kinds of birds the last reserve of 

 food in hard weather ; and many years may pass 

 before the clack of the fieldfares and the harsh 

 chiding of the missel-thrushes are mingled in the 

 boughs of the garden hollies under the loom of 

 the snow-laden sky. The wrangling of their hungry 

 flocks so near our houses is one of the sounds of a 

 bitter winter. Not all berries are ripe for the 

 birds at the same time of the year ; and even of 

 those that are ready together, some seem so much 

 less attractive than others that they long outlast 

 them, to form later and sparer feasts. There is 

 also a great difference in the birds' preferences. 

 Softer and more luscious berries, including rasp- 

 berries, currants, and other garden fruits, are 

 appreciated by many species that could not digest 

 the emergency rations of holly and hawthorn. 

 Currants especially seem to betray many birds 

 otherwise blameless in the gardener's eyes ; and 



