The moss preferred is that
growing on and round stoles.
The melting of the snow and the rains in February cause the ditches to
overflow and form shallow pools in the level meadows. Into these
sometimes the rooks wade as far as the length of their legs allows them,
till the discoloured yellow water almost touches the lower part of the
breast. The moucher searches for small shell snails, of which quantities
are sold as food for cage birds, and cuts small 'turfs' a few inches
square from the green by the roadside. These are in great request for
larks, especially at this time of the year, when they begin to sing with
all their might.
Large flocks of woodpigeons are now in every field where the tender
swede and turnip tops are sprouting green and succulent. These 'tops'
are the moucher's first great crop of the year. The time that they
appear varies with the weather: in a mild winter some may be found early
in January; if the frost has been severe there may be none till March.
These the moucher gathers by stealth; he speedily fills a sack, and goes
off with it to the nearest town. Turnip tops are much more in demand now
than formerly, and the stealing of them a more serious matter. This
trade lasts some time, till the tops become too large and garden greens
take their place.
In going to and fro the fields the moucher searches the banks and digs
out primrose 'mars,' and ferns with the root attached, which he hawks
from door to door in the town.
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