Xll 
PREFACE. 
duck (Fuligula cristata) arrived, and after remaining a few days 
took its departure, but returned in company with two or three 
others of the same species. These went off several times, but re- 
turned on each occasion with an increase to their numbers, until 
above a dozen adorned the water with their presence. During 
severe frost, the woodcock was driven to the unfrozen rill drip- 
ping into it beneath a dense mass of foliage; and the snipe, 
together with the jack-snipe, appeared along the edge of the 
water. The titlark, too, visited it at such times. In summer, the 
swallow, house-martin, sand-martin, and swift, displayed their 
respective modes of flight in pursuit of prey above the surface 
of the pond. The sedge-warbler poured forth its imitative or 
mocking-notes from the cover on the banks, as did the willow- 
wren its simple song. This bird was almost constantly to be 
seen ascending the branches and twigs of the willows (Saline vimi- 
nalis chiefly) that overhung the water, for Aphides and other 
insect prey. In winter, lesser redpoles in little flocks were swayed 
gracefully about, while extracting food from the light and pendent 
bunches of the alder-seed. Three species of tit (Parus major , 
coeruleus , and aterj) and the gold-crested regulus, appeared in 
lively and varied attitudes on the larch and other trees. In 
winter, also, and especially during frost, the wren and the hedge- 
accentor were sure to be seen threading their modest w T ay among 
the entangled roots of the trees and brushwood, little elevated 
above the surface of the water. 
So far only, the pond and bordering foliage have been considered : 
many other species might be named as seen upon the trees. On the 
banks a few yards distant, fine Portugal laurels tempted the green- 
finch to take up its permanent residence, and served as a roost 
during the winter for many hundred linnets, which made known 
the place of their choice by congregating in some fine tall poplars 
