. 

 80 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



hereabouts 'for the first time on our rambles, but the little Tree 

 Creeper was not to be seen or heard. 



After a cursory inspection of several large nests, we made 

 tracks again to where, early in the morning, we had seen 

 the solitary Marsh Tit. Our journey there, however, was a 

 fruitless one, as it was nowhere to be seen. For more than 

 an hour we patiently waited on the chance of its occurring 

 again, but luck was against us. As the rain was still descending, 

 and no good purpose could be served, under the circumstances, 

 by staying, we turned our footsteps homeward rather earlier than 

 we had intended. Had the weather been fine, upon the sloping 

 cowslip-covered bank we might have rested, watching and waiting 

 for the appearance of any interesting bird. As we stepped out 

 of the woodland glen into the green fields once again, the Willow 

 Wren and the Redbreast bade us "Farewell" in as lively and 

 melodious a strain as they had bade us "Welcome." 



On some future occasion we shall search fresh ground for the 

 may-be home of the Willow Tit, but our fruitless excursion in 

 this direction was fraught with pleasing episodes and delightful 

 surroundings such as lovers of Nature cannot fail to enjoy. 





