70 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



had a meal a day or two previously. By the side of a trickling rivulet 

 in the woods a saucy Robin seen; I believe this bird is nesting now. 

 Skylark singing joyously. Blackbird still silent; that is as regards 

 the song. Forget me-not leaves conspicuous. Primroses still back- 

 ward, but a few out. Rookery, but no Rooks about; probably 

 away "gleaning." A chorus of Chaffinches "pinking" in the woods, 

 interspersed with the shrieking alarm cry of the Blackbird. Elder 

 getting greener every day. Honeysuckle foliage well unrolled. Two 

 dead Rooks found; the farmer hereabouts does not value his true 

 friends. I am afraid. Plenty of Oak-Galls. Great Titmouse noisy. 

 Red Dead Nettle in flower. Dandelions, the flower of Spring, out. 

 Tree Creeper seen, and heard uttering a squeaking sort of note, very 

 short. 



...... . L . ; 



2nd. Very hard white frost again last night. Spring exceptionally 

 late. Many black Spiders about in the garden to-day, crawling along 

 the ground. 



3rd. Scotch misty morning. Skylark and Chaffinch singing- 

 Mr. Spary informs me that his son heard the Chiff Chaff on the 1st 

 instant. Raining at night. 



4th. Currant leaves full open in the garden. Rooks dibbing 

 about in front of my window this morning. Skylark singing and soaring 

 at 7 p.m. It is light until that hour now. 



5th. Warm April showers. Hedge Sparrow, Skylark, and Chaffinch 

 heard. 



6th. A lovely Spring day. Everything coming forward apace 

 now. Song Thrush singing. Crocuses in garden have picked up 

 wonderfully this last few days. Violets and Primroses blooming. 



I again visited the Zoological Gardens to-day, and will endeavour 

 to write down a few notes as to the Northern part of the collection, 

 which time did not permit my visiting on March 29th. 



Passing through Regent's Park, I noticed a sort of very small 

 blue Hyacinth in flower; a male and female House Sparrow collecting 

 twigs; several House Sparrows' nests in the Poplar trees; Daffodils 

 blooming; Crocuses in all their beauty; Song Thrush singing; pair 

 Magpies seen in the trees skirting one of the walks. Is it usual for 

 these birds to be seen in the Park, and do they nest there? 



