MARCH. 



53 



the Sparrows in our district do not seem to have the same habits as 

 the ones spoken of by 'Rusticus.' If a piece of twine with a white 

 rag is tied to one of the branches, the Sparrows do not visit that tree 

 for three days or so, but if it (the rag) is allowed to remain, they land 

 on the branches as usual. In my opinion 'Rusticus' has not watched 

 them long enough before giving his verdict." 



23rd. Very cold East wind. The Daffodils in the woods and 

 meadows are bursting, as also White Rock Cress in the garden, and 

 it only wants some nice warm days to fully open the leaves of the 

 Fruit bushes. Wind and rain have spoiled my show of Crocuses. 

 The Mint is through; the Wallflower blooms are nearly ready to 

 burst; White Lilies well up; Violets blooming. Wind veered round 

 later in day to N. 



Afraid 'we shall have more snow, 

 Starling under the gables chattering, 

 and I believe nesting. The Sparrows 

 do not often come into the 

 garden to feed now, but they did 

 this afternoon. The Robin has left 

 the precincts of my garden for 

 the nesting season. I shall not see 

 much of him now until the Autumn. 

 I say "him" advisedly, as it is 

 rarely a female Robin visits me. 



24th. Hedge Sparrow singing 

 in the garden. Very cold and 

 windy; a typical March day. 

 DAFFODILS. Digging in the garden to-day I was 



struck with the quantity of Earth- 

 worms. Nice sunshine towards evening, but very cold. I found 

 two Pupae in the garden this afternoon; one was hibernating in 

 the ground, aud the second one behind some dead Geranium leaves. 

 The latter I could not identify, the other was that of the Heart and 

 Dart Moth I think. 



25th. The Elder is quite green now. Wren singing. Found 

 nest of the Field Mouse; nobody at home when I called. Found 

 dead Rabbit in the woods. On knocking a piece off a rotten tree, 

 many Earwigs to be observed; very long ones. Still four eggs in 

 the Thrush's nest reported on the 18th. The male bird was "on," 

 sitting very closely. How delicate the throat peeping just over the rim 



