578 A FEW AUTUMN NOTES. 
This winter, which made its appearance with such sudden- 
ness and severity, was trying to the birds, and Crows, 
Crested Larks, Buntings, and Finches were to be seen 
seeking a scanty subsistence among the villages. 
During the thaw which swept away all the snow with such 
rapidity I observed large flocks of Jackdaws on the neigh- 
bouring fields and the towers of the town; but now, in the 
middle of December, there are but few of them. 
The recommencement of the snow, accompanied by sharp 
cold, drove the birds that were dispersed among the fields 
and bushes into the roads of the villages and the gardensof ' °° | 
the town, so that even in the middle of Prague I saw Gold- 
crests, Tits, Goldfinches, Yellow Hammers, Chaftinches, 
Greater Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, the last-mentioned 
bird looking for insects on the wall of a house. This second 
and very unexpected heavy fall, which lay a foot deep over 
everything, seemed fraught with much danger to the animal 
world, for the Partridges behaved as they usually only do in 
the depth of a severe winter, and sat huddled together on the 
road, allowing people to go close to them, while those shot 
just now are excessively thin, being mere skin and bone. 
