180 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



The new mown hay and the well-shaped hay-cocks contrasted 

 pleasingly with the scenery all around. The view to the dis- 

 tant hill-tops held me entranced. The home of the present 

 Prime Minister of England gently nestled in a clump of glorious 

 green trees, and the village church pointed its tapered spire 

 towards the azure sky. 



Not far from here I came across a cottager's garden an 

 earthly paradise a veritable picture show. To the left was a 

 patch of double Poppies, gorgeous red ; Canterbury Bells, 

 mauve and white; sweet scented Pinks, Roses of various hues, 

 and an arbour of Honeysuckle over the doorway ; a few bundles 

 of faggots leaning against the moss grown wall ; and a thatched 

 roof. What more could one wish for? I thought I heard the 

 Cuckoo, but am not certain; nevertheless I heard and saw it 

 the day previous the 2nd July. There is nothing very extra- 

 ordinary in seeing it, but it was very late indeed to hear it. An 

 old Naturalist told me he had never heard it after the 2Oth June. 



On again down fine avenues of Firs, Elms, Beeches, Chestnuts, 

 and Oaks, we cross the main road into the park of one of 

 our great landowners. So soon as I arrived inside the park 

 the coops of young Pheasants attracted my attention. Two 

 thousand were being brought off I was told. I am not so 

 sure from a Naturalist's point of view -that the Game Laws 

 do more harm than good to wild birds, at any rate the balance 

 may be on the right side. This, however, is not an opportune 

 time to discuss such a question as this. 



A stray Pigeon or two were seen winging their way through 

 the trees, whilst on through the gentle sloping pasture lands I 

 reached the river in the hollow. Here I found Wild Fowl in 

 abundance, but owing to the stringent restrictions of his Lord- 

 ship I was unable to ramble by the river side to notice the 

 varieties to be met with. All I could discern in the distance 

 was at least a hundred young Wild Ducks lazily paddling up 

 the stream, and two or three Mute Swans. I mounted the old 

 stone bridge and here saw such a sight as I have never before 

 witnessed. Pieces of bread were being thrown into the water, and 

 the fish devoured them ravenously. Tremendous fish, too, they 

 were; no matter what part of the river bread was thrown in, 

 there were fish ready to devour it greedily and fight for dear 



