1891.
June 29
(No 3)
Railroad Journey.
England.
Chester to Hereford. - after flapping lazily a few rods
dropped its legs and alighted again.
  Of the smaller birds I saw many Skylarks, Yellow
Hammers and Chaffinches besides others which I
could not identify.
  Wood Pigeons were rather numerous rising from
grain fields or flying high on their way from
one wood to another. I think I saw a
Magpie flying into the edge of some woods.
  Swifts were seen in small numbers about the
villages. They were swarming at Hereford, especially
late in the afternoon near the river.
  Hereford proved disappointing as far as birds
were concerned. It has few gardens and no parks
as far as I observed. I saw only Swifts and a
few Jackdaws and heard but one Thrush and one 
Blackbird until I crossed the river Wye and
got out into the country. Following a foot path
along the river pausing occasionally to watch the
Swifts that were darting overhead and equally
numerous Sand Martins skimming the water
I came to a narrow lane bordered by masses
of elder bloom. In an orchard on the right a
Titmouse with a broad black stripe extending
from the throat down the middle of the breast
to the belly was uttering a fine, incessant chirping.
She had a small green caterpillar in her bill &
evidently had young near at hand. I took her
to be Parus major. A Willow Wren and Thrush
were singing in this orchard.
  The lane opened into a field which I