RAIL WA V EMBANKMENTS. 
207 
We must not omit to mention the many swallows and martins 
who make the wires their rendezvous previous to their departure 
to warmer climes. Turning once more to the embankment we 
find that it is freely patronised by partridges, many covies of 
which I have Hushed during my walks along the banks, but 
these, I am sorry to say, disappear after September is past, 
doubtless scared by the many sportsmen who frequent these 
parts. Near Reading there are several ponds at the foot of the 
embankment, clothed with reeds and bull-rushes, and in these I 
have frequently noticed moorhens and other aquatic birds, appa- 
rently uninfluenced by the “ iron horse.” 
If we leave the birds and look for other objects to interest 
us, we shall be by no means disappointed, for the many flowers 
which bloom on the sides are much frequented by butterflies 
and day-flying moths. I remember that a few years ago I 
counted more than thirty clouded yellows as I was walking along, 
besides many other species, such as the beautiful peacock butter- 
fly, which seems to be aware of its splendour as it toys on some 
flower more sombre than itself. The blues — both the common 
and silver studded, and occasionally the azure, are to be found 
as they flit past and settle on the very flowers which one is just 
about to tread upon. Here also may be seen the painted lady, 
tortoiseshell, the two heaths and the dainty little orange tip. 
Perchance you may come to a stone bridge under which cattle 
are standing, hidden from the fierce blaze of the sun. On the 
gate which leads to this archway is sure to be a wall butterfly, 
or, as it is sometimes called, the “gate keeper,” which is gently 
opening and closing its chequered wings, and seems to be almost 
inseparable from the surroundings. 
The mice — both long and short tailed — find a veritable Para- 
dise in the concealment afforded by the long grass and coarse 
herbage. Here they have the moss and fine hay which consti- 
tute their home ready at hand, and the abundance of the little 
round balls of finely chopped hay which meet one’s eyes amply 
testify to the number of these interesting little rodents, although 
no doubt many of these animals fall a prey to the kestrel by day, 
and to the owl and snake by night, as the former’s pellets indi- 
cate. Before closing we must not omit to mention the numerous 
wild bees which nest on the embankment — frequently using the 
deserted nests of mice, pipits and other birds — wherein to deposit 
their small shapeless lumps of cells, some stored with honey, 
others with the young grubs. In fact there is an exceedingly 
varied list of birds and animals and insects which are ever to be 
found, and which may afford an endless source of amusement 
and instruction. 
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the railways for affording 
such a welcome abiding-place not only for birds, but also for 
flowers and insects. The reasons for this being the case I put 
down to two facts : firstly, the grass is allowed to grow ripe and 
the seeds to fall before it is cut, and therefore the seed-eating 
