22,6 Thoughts ill September. 



Blne-1)red Biuli^'eriiJi'cirs have bred fairly freely, and 

 although most of the young', both of this season and last, showed 

 a distinct bluish tinge on the under-i)arts, 1 have always found 

 that they become tyi)ica]ly green after the hrst moult. 



This, 1 think, ends my recital of a very mediocre season, 

 vind 1 nuist look forward to an early return to insectivorous 

 birds. They are certainly more trouble to feed, especially 

 when rearing" young", but the results are more pleasing" when 

 achieved, and infinitely more interesting". 



0-M^> 



Thoughts in September. 



By Miss J. Illingworth. 



There are birds which love the water. They may not 

 understand, but they are cpiite in sympathy with the mystery of 

 it. Yesterday I passed by a little pool on the common. 

 There were Swallows skimming along the surface. Every 

 now and then one rose and swooped beautifully down, caught 

 a " fenny-skater," and was away again. A I'ied Wagtail 

 perched on a stone, looking out for prey. Tit-I.arks hovered 

 around, uttering their deeply cheery little note. A young 

 Water Men scurried across the pond. I could see the old nest 

 on the lower Ijranclies of a willow, only an inch or so out of the 

 water. The mother-bird was wandering" jerkily in search of 

 food on the green banks. 



It is not surprising" that the Swedish naturalist, 

 Stillingtleet, affirms with absolute confidence that swallows 

 hibernate under water. Even (lilbert White had to give ear to 

 these theories. Bv his own obserA'ations lie realised that sleepy 

 swallows were usually first seen by the river. A snatch of 

 warm weather and a few insects were certain to bring the 

 swallows out of their torpidity. Was it probable that they 

 would leave sunnv .Africa " To enioy the transient summer of a 

 couple of days?" Besides, there was the tunnel of the 



