Migration of Finches 24 3 



and scarcely a sparrow ; not a yellowhammer on the hedge 

 by the cornfield ; only a very few greenfinches ; not a single 

 bullfinch or goldfinch. Blackbirds, thrushes, and robins 

 alone remained. The way to find what birds are about is 

 to watch one of their favourite drinking and bathing- 

 places ; then it is easy to see which are absent. Where 

 had all these birds gone to ? In the middle of the fields 

 of stubble there were flocks of sparrows — almost innumer- 

 able sparrows — and some finches, but not, apparently, 

 enough to account for all that had left the hedges and 

 trees. That may be explained by their being scattered 

 over so many broad acres — miles of arable land being open 

 to them. 



But the migration from the hedgerows was very marked. 

 They became quite empty and silent about the middle of 

 September. This state of things continued for little more 

 than a week — meaning the absolute silence — then a bird 

 or two appeared in places at long intervals. They now 

 came back rapidly, till, on the 28th, the ' fink, chink' of 

 the finches sounded almost as merrily as before. The 

 greenfinches flew from tree to tree in parties of four, six, 

 or more, calling to each other in their happy confidential 

 way. On that day the trees and hedges seemed to become 

 quite populous again with finches. The sparrows, too, 

 were busy in the roads once more. For a week previously 

 every now and then a single lark might be heard singing 

 for a few minutes : they had been silent before. On the 

 28th half a dozen could be heard singing at once, and now 

 and then a couple might be seen chasing each other as if 

 full of gaiety. It was indeed almost like a second spring : 

 at the same time a few buttercups bloomed, to add to the 

 illusion. 



This migration of the finches from the hedgerows out 



