THE PUDMOORS. 
25 
THE FURZE-WREN, OR DARTFORD WARBLER. 
CHAPTER III. 
The barren, wet, peaty district, called the Pudmoors, 
is tlie favourite resort of the Fern-owl. In the daytime, 
while walking across the moor, you will every now and 
then put up one of these singular birds ; their flight is per- 
fectly without noise, and seldom far at a time : but of an 
evening it is very diiferent. About twenty minutes after 
sunset, the whole moor is ringing with their cry, and you 
see them wheeling round you in all directions. They look 
like spectres; and, often coming close over you, assume an 
unnatural appearance of size against a clear evening sky. 
