TITMICE ON THE lOB. 89 



■wherever it went they pursued it, backwards and forwards, 

 over a space of two or three miles. 



In winter the floods will sometimes freeze. One very cold 

 day, as I was about to cross the ice-bound meadow, I saw 

 some little things in motion at the further end, like feathers 

 dancing about on the ice, which my glass discovered to be the 

 tails of a family of Long-tailed Tits. They were pecking 

 away at the ice, with their tails high in the air. As I neared 

 them they flew away, but marking the place where they were at 

 work, I knelt down on the ice and examined it with the 

 greatest care. Not a trace of anything eatable was to be found. 

 Were they trying to substitute iee for water 1 Not a drop of 

 water was to be found anywhere near. I have seen Fieldfares 

 and Eedwings doing the same thing in Christ Church meadow 

 at Oxford, but the unfrozen Cherwell was within a few yards 

 of them. Wbether or no tke Long-tails were trying to appease 

 their thirst, I may suggest to those who feed the starving birds 

 in winter, that they should remember that water as well as 

 food is necessary to support life. 



The Yantle is a great favourite with Plovers, Turtle-doves, 

 and "Wood-pigeons, and in the winter it is much patronised 

 by Fieldfares and Eedwings. And a day or two ago I surprised 

 four Curlew here (March 21), on their way from the sea to their 

 inland breeding-places. But enough of the village and its 

 gardens and outlying meadows ; in the next chapter we will 

 stroll further afield 



