A ROADSIDE NATURALIST. 



burrow in the sand, or sandy loam, of which they are 

 composed. Now, though hares, rabbits, pheasants, and 

 partridges like cover to a certain extent, they do not 

 like it when it is wet. So, directly the sun has dried 

 up the roads, out they slip from the covers under the 

 park-land palings, and on to the roads — the hares to 

 dot up and down, flecking the sand off their hind- 

 feet in order to dry them, and the pheasants and 

 partridges to sun themselves, and to scuffle in the 

 dry sand under the overhanging banks. 



Reynard knows all about this, and he will hide 

 himself in a patch of fern or broom, and there remain 

 until a chance of capture offers. If Kitty Wren or 

 a chaffinch or a tit does not see him he will be all 

 right ; but if one or the other marks him, the alarm- 

 note is sounded, and this acts like magic, for from 

 all quarters rush birds that have been before in- 

 visible — at least they have not been seen before on 

 the banks. Jays, missel-thrushes, blackbirds, com- 

 mon thrushes, and the finches, all make common 

 cause against the fox. Even the shrikes leave off 

 beetle-hunting and chatter their loudest, with bowed 

 heads and upflirted tails, making common cause 

 with the finches. Directly the row is over they 



