IN FULL CAREER. 175 



" Nov. 11. Gold-crested wren and torn-tit on furze cling- 

 ing to the very spikes, and apparently busy on the tiny green 

 buds now showing thickly on the prickles. 



" The contemplation of the star, the sun, the tree raises 

 the soul into a trance of inner sight of nature." 



" Nov. 17. Sycamore leaves some few still on spotted 

 with intensely black spots an inch across. Willow buds 

 showing." 



" Nov. 23. Oaks most beautiful in sun elms nearly leaf- 

 less, also beech and willow but oaks still in full leaf, some 

 light-brown, still trace of green, some brown, some buff, and 

 tawny almost, save in background, toned by shadow, a trace 

 of red. The elms hid them in .summer ; now the oaks stand 

 out the most prominent objects everywhere, and are seen to 

 be three times as numerous as expected." 



" Nov. 25. Thrushes singing again ; a mild day after 

 week or two cold." 



" Dec. 23. Red-wings came within a yard, Velt (?) came 

 within ten, wood-pigeon the same. Weasel hunting hedge 

 under snow ; under-ground in ivy as busy as possible ; good 

 time for them." 



" Jan. 6. Very sharp frost, calm, some sun in morning, 

 dull at noon." 



" Jan. 7. Frost, wind, dull." 



" Jan. 8. Frost light, strong N.E. wind." 



" Jan. 9. Frost light, some little snow, wind N.E., light. 



"Jan. 10. Very fine, sunny, N.E. wind, sharp frosty 

 morning. 



" Orange moss on old tiles on cattle-sheds and barns a 

 beautiful colour ; a picture." 



" Feb. 7. Larks soaring and singing the first time ; one 

 to an immense height ; rain in morning, afternoon mild but 

 a strong wind from west ; catkins on hazel, and buds on 

 some hazel-bushes ; missel- thrush singing in copse ; spring 

 seems to have burst on us all at once ; chaffinches pairing, 

 or trying to ; fighting." 



