1 90 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



the outskirts of the field various pleasant smelling Thistles and 

 many beautiful Grasses still flourish. It is August, and Summer 

 is on the wane the nights are fast lengthening but there are 

 many varieties of flowers blooming. 



The Sweet Peas in the gardens make a brave picture show, 

 together with the Nasturtiums, Sunflowers, Asters, Stocks, and 

 Carnations. How sweet the aroma from the two last named! 

 The Lime trees, too, smell deliciously ; and others that may be 

 looked for during the eighth month are the Black Elder, Wild 

 Thyme, Red Crane's Bill, Sow Thistle, the golden stars of the 

 Fleabane, Hop Trefoil, Corn Mint, Red Berried Bryony, Wood 

 Loosestrife, and Saw Wort. How soon in many instances has 

 blossom turned to berries. 



The Harvest Mouse the best account of which has been given 

 by Gilbert White of Selborne, perhaps interests us, and we 

 may well spend a few moments watching the curious Earwigs 

 in their never-ceasing labour. How destructive these insects 

 are to the Dahlias in the garden ! That is why we observe those 

 flower-pots on sticks as we cross the stile by the cottager's 

 little plot. How blue the smoke from the homestead as it 

 towers towards the sky! But what of the birds? Bird life is 

 very quiet, indeed, and all Nature is hushed. Only two birds 

 are singing on our ramble, these are the Greenfinch and Wren, 

 though occasionally a Lark bursts into an anthem of praise, a 

 solitary Redbreast may pipe a few strains, and a startled Jay 

 utter its alarm cry, but even the Rooks are taking a rest from 

 exercising their vocal organs. 



We watch a pair of Kestrels and three young ones. Suddenly 

 one of the youngsters darts down by the side of a haystack in 

 the distance. We make our way thither and discover the 

 rascal was attracted by a couple of young Partridges, with the 

 mother bird. He did not touch them, however, and by this time 

 will have been taught that rats and mice are more to his liking 

 than young game. This beautiful Hawk rarely does any harm to 

 Game, and keepers should encourage and protect it. 



How late the Swifts were with us in 1899! I saw them on 

 their last night-fly on August I7th. How the Naturalist looks 

 for these sights and listens for these sounds when he is educated 

 sufficiently to know when and where to look and listen for 



