WILD LIFE IN NOVEMBER 321 



species of birds as the various Titmice, Nuthatch, 

 Tree Creeper, Woodpeckers, and similar tree and 

 woodland-loving species. 



During the wealth of Summer foliage many of 

 these birds have been securely hidden away 

 from the field naturalist's eyes; even his strong 

 prismatic glasses have failed to reveal many of 

 the feathered tenants of the woodland, as they 

 cautiously peered out at him from the thick shade 

 of a blossoming thorn, and then hied away behind 

 the dense masses of foliage which Summer yields. 



In November, however, the scene is changed. 

 Many trees and hedgerows are leafless, and a 

 severe frost soon puts an end to Summer's lease of 

 life. It is pleasant once again to be able to watch 

 and follow these tree-loving birds without let or 

 hindrance, more especially because during the 

 Autumn and Winter solstice, birds, and, indeed, 

 all tenants of the countryside, seem so much more 

 easy of approach, the temerity exhibited during 

 the nesting season having temporarily passed 

 away. 



Come with me for a ramble down some country 

 lane; notice as we pass along the brown stalks 

 and seed heads of a great variety of plant life, 

 the flowers of which have so pleased us during the 

 past Spring and Summer. Even now in November 

 some wild flowers bloom in their endeavour to 

 thwart the inrush of Winter, and in this respect 



