206 
NATURE NOTES. 
I shall long remember my pleasant weeks in this health- 
giving place, the endless drives along the sandy lanes purple 
with heather and ling, the far-reaching blue distances, the wood- 
lands here and there with young Scotch firs growing up to 
replace the old forest and, above all, the pure sw'eet air which 
one feels must bring renewed vigour to one’s brain and a greater 
enjoyment of life for months to come. 
Eliza Brightwen. 
RAILWAY EMBANKMENTS. 
LTHOUGH our railways have done much to spoil the 
scenery of many a hitherto picturesque neighbourhood, 
yet it cannot be denied — even by naturalists — that they 
have brought with them many advantages also. The 
banks — laying aside the convenience which the railway affords 
of getting out speedily and comfortably into the country — prove 
a welcome retreat to many of our feathered friends. Along 
most railways there is either a bank stretching downwards on 
both sides from the rails, or else the rails are in a valley, and the 
banks run up from them to the more level country. The former 
of these is in my opinion the most frequented by birds and small 
animals. The former appear to be little frightened by the 
passing trains, and only those nearest to the rails think it worth 
while to fly lower down the bank. The birds that are most fre- 
quently to be noticed are the tree and meadow pipits, for whom 
no more suitable place could be found to hide their nests in than 
the rank herbage which grows on the banks. Again, yellow 
hammers, buntings and wagtails are always well in evidence as 
they fly a little above the rank grass for some distance, and then 
with a satisfied twitter settle again to resume their search for 
the grass reeds which everywhere abound. Another bird which 
may be said to be decidedly partial to the railway embankment 
is the kestrel hawk, which takes advantage of the loud noise of 
the train to pounce on its prey, and may frequently be seen 
hovering over the line, ready to snap up any bird which is 
induced to seek safety from the advancing train in flight. This 
propensity of the windhover has, alas ! been frequently the ruin 
of this beautiful bird as, in its eagerness to snatch some bird 
which is flying across the line, it is caught by the approaching 
engine and dashed to pieces. Frequent instances of this have 
occurred quite recently — the birds often getting fixed in some 
portion of the engine and secured by the driver. In this way a 
beautiful specimen of the golden eagle was captured in Scotland 
a few years ago. The telegraph wires which run along the sides 
of the embankment are much used by the butcher bird and fly- 
catcher, from which point qf vantage they are enabled to secure 
the flies and beetles which are in the air. 
