56 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Skylark singing in spite of Wintry surroundings. Some of the Summer 

 Migrants may be seen, but I doubt if any will exercise their vocal 

 power whilst this weather lasts. 



Mistle Thrush singing, but he is going off, and will soon be quite 

 silent. Instead of improving in song, like the majority of birds now, 

 the Mistle is an exception to the rule, and ceases in March. Can 

 this be explained? He will resume about July. There is very little 

 variety in his song; if you disturb him he flits into the highest 

 branches of the next tree, and starts singing again, and will do this 

 many times without ceasing. 



29th. Sharp frost last night, but lovely mornings now, full of 

 brilliant sunshine. Pair of Chaffinches in the garden. The call of the 

 hen bird is like that of the cock Bullfinch a plaintive, weeping sort 

 of note, which contrasts very strangely with the shrill reply of the male 

 Chaffinch. The consciousness of protection of the Hedge Sparrow is 

 very marked. One in the garden this morning allowed me to pass 

 within a few feet of him. How delicate the grey, greyish-blue, and 

 brown plumage 1 I whistled a few notes to him, which such a sweet 

 little warbler doubtless thought very rough and rugged. 



I spent an hour or two at the Zoological Gardens in Regent's 

 Park, London, to-day, and I could not have had a more beautiful day 

 for my visit. 



The Park itself was very fresh and green, and the patches of 

 white, yellow, and purple Crocuses, planted in amongst the fresh green 

 grass, looked very lovely indeed. There will be a grand show of 

 Hyacinths, Tulips, and other Spring flowers a little later, as the broad 

 and other walks are teeming with well-planned beds of these Bulbs. 

 I had hardly stepped into the Park before I heard a Song Thrush in 

 fairly good tune, and, a little later, the alarm cry of a male Blackbird. 

 I suspect he had a nest in one of the evergreens somewhere. The 

 Yellow Jasmine was blooming nicely, and I noticed a few Rooks on 

 the more open ground through the trees. Wood Pigeons were cooing 

 loudly what a truly rural sound, and how different to the rush and 

 tear of Tottenham Court Road not many hundred yards away and 

 several Robins were in full song. The Almond blossom was well out, 

 and the Lilac leaves almost opened. 



Now as to the collection of animals, &c., located in the Gardens, 

 I do not pretend to write a full account of the (about) i',500 specimens 

 usually on exhibition, neither does this little sketch pretend to be a 



