NATURE IN MAY. 85 



boys owing to its supposed snake-like character is this creature, 

 but it harms nobody. Notice the Wild Cherry blossom by the 

 side of the wood skirting the end of the meadow, the Wood 

 Sorrel and the Woodruff. The latter is now in blossom ; it 

 does not smell so sweet when first plucked as when rubbed 

 between the fingers, or put in the kerchief drawer; then it 

 gives a beautiful aroma. 



As soon as the Hawthorn is in leaf the Cockchafer makes 

 its first appearance. The "Common" Sparrows like these and 

 get them too, in spite of what is said by Sparrow haters to 

 the contrary. If they do not come out until the Sparrows 

 or the Avian Rats as Mr. Tegetmeier has called them have 

 retired to rest, cannot they get them during the day when they 

 are scratching and fumbling in the leaves or anywhere else 

 where the Chafers hide? 



The Garden Warbler is seen in the cottager's garden ; how 

 beautiful its song. This bird is not well known, nor, indeed, is the 

 bird from whom that strange sound is now proceeding the 

 Grasshopper Warbler. The extraordinary situations in which 

 birds so often place their nests is well illustrated by glancing 

 at the photograph of a pair of Redbreasts, their nest and eggs, 

 on page 84. It will be seen they have chosen a very snug 

 nesting site in an old pitcher which has apparently been 

 thrown into the hedgerow. As a study from still life, this beauti- 

 ful group is a striking representation of the art of the Curator 

 and the Camera. 



The Orchises are lovely now, the Meadow, the Bee and 

 other varieties; they are like so many gorgeously painted insects 

 settled on the stems, a wonderful illustration of mimicry in Nature. 



Skimming the lake we observe a dozen pairs of Sand Martins. 

 We often observe them in this locality. There is a sand pit 

 hard by; we have known the tunnels there for years past. 

 How brown their backs when compared with the Swallows 

 and House Martins, which dart in and out of the little com- 

 pany. Here, too, we may perhaps see the Grey Wagtail, 

 but it is in the Western Counties more especially where he is 

 found. Darting past goes an Orange-tip Butterfly ; how beauti- 

 fully and delicately painted, and how fragile ! The male only 

 has the orange-tipped wings. 



