26 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



in the flesh not so long ago, but it is thought it was an escaped bird, 

 yet it was an adult. I made another call this evening where I 

 believed some birds were on view. In one case I noticed a female 

 Pheasant, a Nightjar, a Cuckoo, a Black Tern, and one or two smaller 

 birds. In another case I had the pleasure of observing a male 

 Hoopoe. These specimens were, I believe, all obtained in Bedford- 

 shire. I have far exceeded the space intended to be devoted to my 

 diary under one date, but in the study of Natural History fresh sights 

 and sounds crop up unexpectedly, which ease the tension, and make 

 life worth living. 



18th. At this season of the year Clinton Scollard's verses "In 

 February" are very opportune. Here is one: 



"We long for the green and white on the orchard spray, 

 For the rustle of grass and the Cricket shrilling low, 

 And yet we can wait, for under the rime we know 

 Is the living heart that will quicken again in May." 



It was beautiful to ramble abroad this morning in the warm sunshine, 

 but some lanes I found impassable. Dampness under foot, however, was 

 hardly objectionable, for the Skylarks, Robins, and Hedge Sparrows 

 were singing quite gaily, and so engaging our every attention. I heard a 



Woodpecker " langhing," some 

 Jays startling everything within 

 sound of their sentinel cry, and 

 a Carrion Crow "went over." 

 The male blossom of the Hazel 

 is out, but I could perceive no 

 female tufts of red as yet. The 

 Sallow, far better known as 

 Palm, is just unrolling its sil- 

 ver blossoms. Many pairs of 

 Chaffinches seen. The ditches are 

 full of water, and the hedgerows 

 have all been trimmed. How 

 KESTREL. exquisite the red breasts of the 



Robins! These birds appear 

 almost at every turn. It is difficult to distinguish the sexes. 



In a meadow where a stream runs its winding course, and where 

 banks of mud had been thrown up, I spotted a magnificent pair of 

 Mistletoe Thrushes. I watched them for some minutes feeding, but 

 they caught sight of me and were off. What a fine breast the male 

 bird hasl 



