330 MY COUNTRY WANDERINGS 



as on gossamer wings over the surface of the 

 stream, and a speckled Trout is actually lured 

 into the belief that the Mayfly season is again 

 upon us ! 



A Water Vole, so erroneously called and mis- 

 taken for a Water Rat, cautiously moves through 

 the dead aquatic herbage, and a " crooing " 

 Moorhen is startled from its hiding-place. Here, 

 too, the Little Grebe, with its many curious antics, 

 may with pleasure be observed, or the Reed 

 Bunting; the last named takes the place at this 

 season of the noisy, imitative Sedge Warbler, 

 which species this particular habitat will not 

 include amongst its feathered tenants until the 

 dawn of another Springtide. 



Where the Holly or Mountain Ash is found — 

 laden at this season with bright berries of scarlet — 

 there may be seen quite a feathered gathering. 

 Fieldfares, Redwings, Song and Mistle Thrushes, 

 Blackbirds, and other avine tenants of the country- 

 side are enjoying a regal feast indeed! 



Flitting on the topmost branches of the sunlit 

 hedgerow, the Yellow Bunting may be noticed in 

 his exquisite green and yellow dress, and nowa- 

 days one notes, too, with pleasure the noticeable 

 increase in the numbers of that sprightly and 

 entertaining bird, the Goldfinch. 



Passing by a cottage garden a pair of Wrens on 

 the bare branches of an overhanging tree afford 



