JUNE 



Cirrus Days 



IT is sense of immensity and expanse in the firma- 

 ment that appeals most in these early summer 

 days. The " inverted bowl " of the sky is 

 vaster than at many other times. In past months it 

 was so finite to the vision. There were days when 

 a leaden sky seemed almost on our heads, causing a 

 feeling of oppression, as a low ceiling will. Even 

 on a starlit night in autumn the firmament may be 

 dwarfed. A slight earth mist will bring Sirius or 

 Charles's Wain seemingly within reach of a ladder 

 shorter than Jacob's. But now there is a sense of 

 physical relief and expansion for us in clear June 

 days and nights. Often after a day of sun, the hot 

 air fluctuating to the eye, an evening of utter lull 

 comes on. This is the evening for the nightjar. 

 At close quarters one can hear finest shades of sound 

 in his vibrations, odd little detached chuckles and 

 gurgles that occur at the end of each lay. At such 

 a time I have heard the nightjar I could swear to 

 it three-quarters of a mile off; the other evening 

 I could just hear isolated notes in the lay of a 

 nightingale singing at this distance from where I 

 stood. 



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