180 Wild Life in a Southern County 



greatest ease. But if not fired at, after he has got well 

 on the wing, the flight becomes much stronger, and it is 

 evident that he is capable of a long voyage. 



Sometimes, by patience and skilfully anticipating his 

 zig-zag motions in the grass, the crake may be driven to 

 the hedge without a dog. He will then, after a short time, 

 if still hunted, ' quat ' in the thickest bunch of grass or 

 weeds he can find in the ditch, and will stay till all but 

 stepped on, when he can be knocked down with a walking- 

 stick. After the grass is mown, the crakes leave the 

 meadows and go to the arable fields, where the crops afford 

 them shelter. This district seems a very favourite resort 

 of these birds. 



The mowing-grass while standing does not appear to 

 attract other birds much ; but immediately the scythe has 

 passed over they flock to the swathes from the hedges, and 

 come, too, to the hay itself when quite dry. In hay there 

 are many plants whose stems are hollow. Now, as soon 

 as a stalk is dry, if there be any crevice at all, insects will 

 creep in ; so that these tiny tubes are frequently full of 

 inhabitants, which probably attract the birds. 



Sometimes a bird will perch for a moment on a hay- 

 maker's hat as he walks slowly down a lane with hedges 

 each side ; the fibres of hay have adhered to it, and the 

 keen eyes above have detected some moving creature on 

 them. Birds that are otherwise timid will remain on the 

 footpath to the very last moment, almost till within reach, 

 if they chance to be dissecting a choice morsel, some ex- 

 quisite beetle or moth — pecking at it in eager haste and 

 running what to them must seem a terrible risk for the 

 sake of gratifying their taste. 



The wood-pigeons are fond of acorns, and come for 

 them to the oaks growing in an irregular row along the 



