l6o A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



Lark a little later. To see the Lark on its first morning 

 journey towering towards the azure sky, with its 



Tirra-lay 

 Day's begun, 



to hear the melodious notes of our highly prized song birds; 

 to watch the industrious Titmice as they pick the lurking 

 insects from the fruit trees; to gaze upon the hundred and 

 one antics of the Pied or Yellow Wagtails, affords delight 

 to me when I think of what I am enjoying and others, less 

 fortunate perhaps, are missing. 



There is only a gentle breeze which lightly stirs the top- 

 most twigs, while the green domes of foliage stand out clear 

 and sharp against the blue and white of an early June sky. 

 What would country life be without such exquisite dainties? In 

 the gardens may be seen Iris, Purple, Yellow and White; 

 golden rimmed Roses mingling with crimson; a patch of 

 gorgeous Poppies, Pyrethrum, Columbine, and Narcissus bespat- 

 tered with clear fresh dew-drops; Laburnum, together with 

 budding Carnations, and rainbow Pansies. 



This, too, is the season of the Chestnut blossom, White and 

 Pink. How picturesque is the avenue of Pink Chestnuts with 

 the green leaves, winging their way over the tops of which 

 are a score or more Rooks about to commence their work of 

 destroying thousands of that destructive grub, the wireworm. 

 The depredations of the Crow often leads to the persecution 

 of the Rook. 



The Pink Chestnut is not the only evidence of pink in early 

 June. The Double Pink May is now in its beauty, and what 

 a great show it makes. Secreted in its thickest branches the 

 Merle or Mavis may have a nest, containing, perchance, four 

 or five young fledglings. The gaily-plumed Chaffinch, too, is 

 very partial to the hawthorn, wherein he builds what is un- 

 doubtedly one of the most beautifully constructed nests of our 

 British Birds. 



Every component part of Nature is touched with tender 

 colour, and one may emerge from the sun-scorched paths and 

 catch the warm winds that blow across the glorious commons. 



