104 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



homestead. How beautifully rounded is the interior, and how 

 those freckled blue eggs, 



Ink-spotted over, shells of green and blue: 

 Like heath-bells gilt with dew: 



stand out against the brown ground-work of the nest. 



In the young Fir trees the green tassels now in all their 

 beauty the rival males are singing. The cheery Hedge Accentor 

 - clad in plain brown livery is content to warble sweet and 

 low; but King Thrush pours out his rich mellow notes, 



Tiurru, tiurra, chipiwi, Too-tee, too-tee, chinchoo, 



loud and long. This is their language, and what those musical 

 utterances mean may be rivalry on the part of the males. 



Walking on, a nest of the Chaffinch presents itself in a low 

 Beech. We remark that it is very rare that any bird places 

 its nest in such a tree. At least that is our experience. 



All along the hedges Hyacinths are blooming, together with 

 the Stitchwort, and the many coloured leaves of the shooting Syca- 

 more make a fine background. We stoop to pluck one of 

 these Wild Hyacinths, and in the act frighten a Robin out of 

 the tangled bank. Looking carefully, we find the snuggest 

 nest imaginable. There is a small hole between the fallen leaves 

 for the ingress and egress of the bird, but pulling one or two 

 of the leaves away with the fingers exhibits the beautifully 

 constructed nest. It is quite ready for the red freckled eggs, 

 which let us hope will be safely hatched, and the youngsters 

 safely reared. 



Farther on we observe two or three more Hedge Sparrows' 

 nes ts all with those delicately painted shells and a fluty 

 Blackbird then strikes up his alarm cry. In between a sturdy 

 Nut Hazel stem, we find the well constructed nest. How 

 strongly felted together it is, so much so that no wind can 

 shift it. We notice the two greenish eggs, blotched with brown, 

 then make the nest somewhat more secure from the gangs of 

 nest robbers, and we pass on. 



How the Cowslips smell, they betray their presence over 

 the other side of the hedgerow. We mount the bank and a 



