COMMON OBJECTS BY THE CHlEWIiLL. 39 



water ; Swifts scream overhead towards evening ; Greenfinches 

 trill gently in the trees, or utter that curious lengthened sound 

 which is something between the bleat of a lamb and the snore 

 of a light sleeper ; the Yellow Wagtail, lately arrived, walks 

 before you on the path, looking for materials for a nest near the 

 water's edge ; the Fly-catcher, latest arrival of all, is perched in 

 silence on the railing, darting now and then into the air for flies ; 

 the Corn-crake sounds from his security beyond the Cherwell, and 

 a solitary Nightingale, soon to be driven away by dogs and 

 boats and bathers, may startle you with a burst of song from 

 the neighbouring thicket. There I leave them for the present ; 

 we shall see more of them further on in the course of a country 

 walk. 



