42 



THE NATURALIST. 



the others do. It is a very clean and handsome bird ; the eye of the most 

 indifferent rustic will often linger on its brilliant livery with unfeigned 

 pleasure, 



Meadow Pipit or Titlark. The Titlark is almost as regular in its 

 attendance on the plough as the Pied Wagtail, being present both in winter 

 and summer. It will stand on a clod like the wagtails, uttering its short " pit 

 pit," but is less industrious and flies away oftener. When motionless it is 

 difficult to perceive as it is nearly the colour of the soil. One of its notes is 

 not unlike the squeak of a mouse. In April it is an untning songster, raising 

 itself every few minutes with a sort of fluttering, laboured m^otion, and then 

 descending with outspread wings, very frequently alighting on a rail, or 

 stone. White says, Tit begins its song in the middle of April, but I have 

 heard it two seasons together in March. This season I heard it the first 

 time on the 18th of March. 



Sky Lark. This bird is a ground feeder, and often picks up a morsel 

 among the fresh turned up soil,* but it seems to prefer stubbles, young wheat, 

 or clover. It is a discursive bird, often shifting its position, or flying away ; 

 it is very common, and an unwearied singer. In April when the buds are 

 bursting, and the air is filled with the scent of spring, it will carol all day 

 long above the ploughman's head. 



These birds — the wagtails and larks — associate together amicably, and 

 never quarrel or fight like the sparrows, and some other combative species. 



EooK. The five birds above named come and feed on the arable field 

 in spring in odd ones, or pairs, the rooks come in companies, or flocks. The 

 rook is not surpassed by any other bird I know for sagacity. Plocks will 

 allow the ploughman to pass within a few yards of them, but a gunner is 

 seldom permitted to get within gunshot. There are always sentinels who, on 

 the approach of an enemy, give a caw, vv^hen they all rise and make ofi", almost 

 always keeping clear of the lurking alarmist. In spring the Eook picks up a 

 great many grubs, and worms, which the plough uncovers, but these are not ex- 

 clusively the objects of its search. Potatoes newly planted, and newly sown 

 barley and peas, form a large portion of its fare. In summer and autumn it 

 attacks the growing peas and beans, and bills up the newly sown wheat. 

 These and other depredations which might be mentioned are often very 

 serious, consequently it is looked on by the farmers more in the light of an 

 enemy than a friend, and I think with some reason. In districts where 

 Cockchafers abound the Eook may be very beneficial, and in pasturing 

 districts it will certainly be less injurious than where the soil is well culti- 



