NATURE IN JUNE. 

 I. 



THE month of June has many pleasant associations. True 

 the season for the Maypole dance has passed, and it is not 

 always that the Hawthorn is forward enough to be taken advan- 

 tage of by the rosy-cheeked May girls, but by the last two 

 weeks of the fifth month and the first week in June the bloom 

 is usually abundant. June is almost certain to have its May, 

 but May is not always so certain of its perfected Hawthorn 

 blossoms, and when it is not forthcoming by the First the 

 Blackthorn is used in its stead, but there remains something 

 lacking when the true signs of the fifth month are missing. It 

 is pleasing even in June to think of the lasses bespattered with 

 the beautiful snow-white blossoms, and sometimes with golden 

 Crowfoots and Marsh Marigolds. It is a glorious contrast this 

 bright silver and gorgeous gold. 



A phenomenally warm day in February is welcome, Nature 

 in April is glorious, a May morning is exquisite ; but June, 

 leafy June, far outshines them all. Why? By this time our 

 Summer visitors have arrived and settled down to peaceful 

 enjoyment of their six months ' sojourn amongst us. The last 

 of our migrants reached us in the ordinary course by the 

 middle of May the Swift, Flycatcher, Landrail, and Nightjar. 



The Swallow now skims over the surface of the river and the 

 pool, and rises and falls gracefully through the crowded thor- 

 oughfares with marvellous rapidity: the gentle House Martin 

 under the eaves utters its pleasant, though feeble, warble, and 

 no bird is more conscious of protection. 



As one rambles across the glorious green pastures the beaten 

 track winding along in curious zig-zag lines one inhales the 



