XU PREFACE. 



duck (Fuligula cristata) arrived, and after remaining a few days 

 took its departure, but returned in company with two or three 

 others of the same species. These went off several times, but re- 

 turned on each occasion with an increase to their, numbers, until 

 above a dozen adorned the water with their presence. During 

 severe frost, the woodcock was driven to the unfrozen rill drip- 

 ping into it beneath a dense mass of foliage; and the snipe, 

 together with the jack-snipe, appeared along the edge of the 

 water. The titlark, too, visited it at such times. In summer, the 

 swallow, house-martin, sand-martin, and swift, displayed their 

 respective modes of flight in pursuit of prey above the surface 

 of the pond. The sedge-warbler poured forth its imitative or 

 mocking-notes from the cover on the banks, as did the willow- 

 wren its simple song. This bird was almost constantly to be 

 seen ascending the branches and twigs of the willows {Salix vimi- 

 tialis chiefly) that overhung the water, for Ap/tides and other 

 insect prey. In winter, lesser redpoles in little flocks were swayed 

 gracefully about, while extracting food from the light and pendent 

 bunches of the alder-seed. Three species of tit (Parus major, 

 ccendeus, and ater,) and the gold-crested regulus, appeared in 

 lively and varied attitudes on the larch and other trees. In 

 winter, also, and especially during frost, the wren and the hedge- 

 accentor were sure to be seen threading their modest way among 

 the entangled roots of the trees and brushwood, little elevated 

 above the surface of the water. 



So far only, the pond and bordering foliage have been considered : 

 many other species might.be named as seen upon the trees. On the 

 banks a few yards distant, fine Portugal laurels tempted the green- 

 finch to take up its permanent residence, and served as a roost 

 during the winter for many hundred linnets, which made known 

 the place of their choice by congregating in some fine tall poplars 



