266 BIRDS AND MAN 



and furze. And the birds ! — for those few 

 metropolitan species an abundance and variety 

 beyond that of any other spot in England. 



By one of the streams there, on a wooded 

 marshy spot, I found the rare, graceful blue 

 hawk nesting ; and that same spot was also 

 haunted by the bluer, shining kingfisher. Close 

 by was another wood of old oak-trees, sacred to 

 the brown owls. In that wood they hooted not 

 only by night : at ten to twelve o'clock in the 

 morning, in wet or cloudy weather, they had the 

 habit of suddenly breaking out in loud cries ; not 

 as at night when bird answers bird with a sound 

 distinct and clear and flute-like, but all together 

 in a rude confused concert or chorus, ending as 

 suddenly as it began. 



In another direction, miles away, on the con- 

 fines of the territory I had marked out for my 

 rambles, there was a heronry on the tallest pine- 

 trees ; and it was a rare pleasure to see the great 

 birds arrive to feed their yoimg and hear their 

 screams echo through the wide solitary wood ; a 

 greater pleasure still to watch them depart — 



Lifting grey tranquil wings away 

 To tranquil skies, 



