312 Wild Life in a Southern County. 
behind him as if with a sharp snip, cutting the air 
like shears; and then, holding them extended, he 
glides like a quoit. 
In old days men used to be on the watch about 
the time of the great race-meetings, in order to shoot 
at every pigeon that went past, in hope of finding a 
message attached to the bird, and so getting the 
advantage of early intelligence. In one such case I 
heard of, the pigeon had the name of the winner, and 
was shot on a tree where it had alighted, weary from 
want of food or uncertain as to its course. 
The golden-crested wren—smallest of the birds— 
scarcely ever leaves the shelter of the hedges and trees. 
The crest or top-knot is not exactly golden, but 
rather orange; and as the body of the tiny creature 
is dusky in hue, the bright colour on its head shines 
like flame in contrast. By this ruddy lamp upon its 
head the wren may be discovered hidden deep in the 
intricate mazes of the thorn bushes, where otherwise it 
would be difficult to find it. These wrens are usually 
in pairs; Ihave seldom seen one by itself. They are 
not rare, and yet are comparatively little seen, and 
must I think travel a good deal. All the same, they 
have their favourite places; there was one hedge 
where, if the bird was anywhere in the neighbourhood, 
T could feel sure of finding him. It was very thick 
and entirely of hdwthorn and blackthorn, and 
divided two water-meadows. 
