254 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



There is indeed a sermon, and although some of the stanzas 

 are somewhat out of place in November the placing of the 

 words is no less poetical and worthy of understanding to the 

 Nature soul. 



The Bryony is out now, and even in muggy November a 

 Red Admiral Butterfly may still be seen occasionally. 



It is a grand sight to watch a Sparrow Hawk or a Kestrel 

 in this month for, if either hie away to some distant tree, by 

 the aid of a powerful field-glass their actions and pranks may 

 easily be followed. 



In the deep holes of the river, where it is somewhat clear, 

 we may spend half-an-hour or so watching the well-marked 

 Perch. He is a game fighter, and gives the angler plenty of 

 sport for his money. 



On a tangled bush by the wayside, Honeysuckle may still 

 be found in flower, but it seems to have lost much of its 

 sweet aroma. This lovely flower never smells half so sweet 

 and delicious as when its petals are first opened. Fresh green 

 leaves appear all through the Winter and help to keep up the 

 Nature lover's enthusiasm. The Traveller's Joy too still abounds. 

 What a fine background this latter makes for a rosy-red Bull- 

 finch. He never looks better than at this period of the year. 



It is interesting to watch the Jackdaws and Rooks now; how 

 well they cog in together, the Daws toying in the air, now 

 circling, now falling, now flying straight ahead, up and down, 

 then round and round, and finally stationary. The Starlings 

 too join in with the Daws and Rooks, and it is no uncommon 

 sight to see all three varieties on the same roost trees. 



The various Mosses must not be overlooked during this month, 

 and the old brown Water Vole calls for special notice. 



In the South we are often favoured with small flocks of 

 Crossbills and Snow Buntings, though I have seen what might 

 be called large flocks of both birds. The Crossbills resort in 

 Somersetshire to the Cider Mills where the waste is very much 

 to their liking, but the Buntings I have found during the Winter 

 months around farmyards. 



It is interesting to watch the Pigeons at the cote, flying round, 

 tumbling in the air, then resting and gracefully walking, picking 

 up a stray grain or two. 



