THE CROWS. 107 



The somewhat dingy hue of many trees as the 

 summer begins to wane is caused not only by the 

 fading of the green, but by the appearance of spots 

 upon the leaves, as may be seen on those birches 

 which grow among the furze. But in spring and 

 early summer their fresh light green contrasts with 

 masses of bright yellow gorse bloom. Just before 

 then — ^,just as the first leaves are opening — the chiff- 

 chaffs come. 



The first spring I had any knowledge of this spot 

 was mild, and had been jpreceded by mild seasons. 

 The chiffchaffs arrived all at once, as it seemed, in a 

 bevy, and took possession of every birch about the 

 furze, calling incessantly with might and main. The 

 willow-wrens were nearly as numerous. All the gorse 

 seemed full of them for a few days. Then by degrees 

 they gradually spread abroad, and dispersed among 

 the hedges. 



But in the following springs nothing of the kind 

 occurred. Chiffchaff and willow-wren came as usual, 

 but they did not arrive in a crowd at once. This may 

 have been owing to the flight going elsewhere, or 

 possibly the flock were diminished by failure to rear 

 the young broods in so drenching a season as 1879, 

 which would explain the difference observed next 

 spring. There was no scarcity, but there was a lack 

 of the bustle and excitement and flood of song that 

 accompanied their advent tw^o years before. 



Upon a piece of waste land at the corner of the 

 furze a very large cinder and dust-heap was made by 

 carting refuse there from the neighbouring suburb. 

 During the sharp and continued frosts of the winter 



