Peggles. 229 
quite dry. In hay there are many plants whose 
stems are hollow. Now, as soon as a stalk is dry, if 
there be any crevice at all, insects will creep in; so 
that these tiny tubes are frequently full of inhabitants, 
which probably attract the birds. 
Sometimes a bird will perch for a moment ona 
haymaker’s hat as he walks slowly down a lane with 
hedges each side ; the fibres of hay have adhered to 
it, and the keen eyes above have detected some mov- 
ing creature on them. Birds that are otherwise 
timid will remain on the footpath to the very last 
moment, almost till within reach, if they chance to 
be dissecting a choice morsel, some exquisite beetle 
or moth—pecking at it in eager haste and running 
what to them must seem a terrible risk for the sake of 
gratifying their taste. 
The wood-pigeons are fond of acorns, and come 
for them to the oaks growing in an irregular row along 
the hedge at the top of the home-field. They are 
most voracious birds and literally cram their crops 
with this hard fruit. Squirrels and mice enjoy the 
nuts in Hazel Corner, and the thrushes and pigeons 
feed on the peggles which cover the great hawthorn 
bush there so thickly as to give it a reddish tint. 
There is a difference even in this fruit: on some 
bushes the peggles consist mainly of the internal 
stone, the edible coating being of the thinnest. On 
others the stone is embedded in a thick mellow 
covering affording twice as much food. Like other 
