NATURE IN OCTOBER. 233 



season of the year is the Tawny Owl. I have found young 

 in the nest as late as the middle of the month. The House 

 Sparrows are back again in my garden and are glad to avail 

 themselves of the food thrown down for them. They are still 

 breeding in my water-spout, and many of the females are 

 bob-tailed. This is doubtless due to continual sitting. 



The plentifulness of Holly berries, red and green, and the 

 flowering Ivy is very noticeable. All around leaves are falling, 

 the trees are casting off their rich Summer dress for the plain 

 but necessary garb of Winter. We know, however, that for 

 nearly every leaf that falls there is a bud forming which will 

 in the early Spring burst in all its richness. 



How beautiful to look from some eminence during October 

 at the colours and tints of the Autumn foliage 1 Golden ming- 

 ling with silver and rich dark red ; various shades of brown 

 battling with primrose yellow ; light and dark greens, white, 

 blue and ochre. It is stated that the changing of the colour 

 in Autumn leaves is supposed to be caused by the trees 

 absorbing oxygen during the night, which, owing to the coldness 

 of the weather, they have not strength enough to throw out 

 again in the daytime, and that this gives an acidity to the 

 juices of the tree which changes the colour of the leaf, or that, 

 otherwise, they would be pushed down by the new buds in all 

 their green Summer array. Some admit that this may be the 

 case with leaves that are red, but not with others that are 

 brown and yellow. 



How bold and green the Fir trees stand out at this season, 

 against the browns, reds, and yellows of Oak and Cherry, Beech 

 and Lime, and the golden Horse Chestnut 1 The Walnut is one 

 of the earliest trees to shed its Summer dress. What a pity 

 it seems for these mansions to fall toppling to the ground, 

 but the all-wise hand of Nature admits of no criticism. 



How the acorns and chestnuts come pelting down when the 

 wind blows, and if we hide ourselves under the spreading 

 chestnut trees we may have the good fortune to see a Squirrel 

 or a Wood Mouse go scampering along with the fruit of the 

 acorn in its mouth 



One of the grandest sights during this month is to pay a 

 visit to a well wooded park where Deer are kept. It may not 



