THE MEMORY OF A BUTTERFLY 



from one kind of nectar-producing flower to another 

 kind. I have noticed a few of the skippers floury 

 with pollen. One of the few butterflies which I have 

 not seen drawing from the nectaries of flowers this 

 summer is the white admiral of the woodlands. 



The Starling's Return 



It is a strong point in the starling's favour that 

 he sings at a season when bird-song is rare and 

 valuable. This summer not all my starlings had got 

 oflF their young till well into July. Then the birds, 

 young and old alike, quite disappeared in the usual 

 way. Yet several of the old males have returned 

 indeed, they were back to their favourite lawn and 

 shrubbery by the beginning of the month and 

 every fine morning are in excellent tune again. The 

 weeks in the year when the real song-bird starlings 

 are not heard in favourite haunts might be counted 

 on the two hands. Early morning, up to about 

 eight or nine o'clock, is the time the starling gives 

 to song in August and September, 



There is no sign of motive of gallantry or rivalry, 

 love or war, about the song of the starling now, 

 if at any season. He makes no attempt to drive off" 

 another starling singing from his own or the next 

 branch. He sings alone, or in company, in the 

 same happy, contented strain ; indifferent whether 

 his perch is a prominent twig on the apple tree, or 



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