172 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



the green and red of the slates, and how small the Sand Martin 

 seems, and how much more mouse-coloured the plumage, as 

 he darts in and out of this ever-busy bird company ! The Swifts, 

 too, join them just before sunset, and all four varieties agree 

 most harmoniously together. The latter bird is in no way 

 related to the Swallow tribe. 



At one end the lake skirts a wood, at the other end it breaks 

 off into a clear, crystal stream, where later in the day we find 

 the speckled Trout "at home." 



How beautiful the Dragon-Flies are as they chase one another 

 over the surface of the pool, and what curious looking insects 

 settle on the hands now and then, nipping us so that we do not 

 fall asleep 1 From the trees on the left comes the Chiff Chaff's 

 welcome notes. What a brave little fellow he is to sing right 

 from March until now! The Tree Pipit, too, is still singing, a 

 remark which also applies to the Wren, Chaffinch, Willow 

 Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Swallow, and House Martin, 

 and perhaps a Thrush or Blackbird. 



We must not forget the Spotted Flycatcher's curious note, 

 too, and, watching, we observe a pair of these late comers on 

 the boughs of an overhanging willow, dexterously catching the 

 insects which abound over the surface of the pool. How inter- 

 esting to watch their various movements, and their quick turns 

 and evolutions; how snug is the nest which we find placed in 

 the porch of the miller's house, containing four freckled eggs. 



Gliding past us goes a Wild Duck and three young fledglings. 

 The drake has forsaken them, for be it known that when 

 incubation commences he retires to moult when he assumes 

 the garb of the female only to come out in Jiis flying colours 

 again at a later stage. Coots and Moorhens abound, and 

 please us now and again with their "crews'* and "crr-ooks." 

 We notice the now empty rush cradles which have, let us 

 hope, safely harboured the progeny. 



The giant Foxgloves in the coppice attract our attention, and 

 the Daisies in the grass land through which we traverse are in 

 abundance here. Here, too, in this damp and shady place, we 

 find the Valerian, and higher up on the hillside, Hare-bells 

 gilt with dew. 



In a thorn bush by the water's edge we peep into the nest 



