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COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



I found the following wild flowers in bloom to-day: Common 

 Chick weed, Marsh Marigold, Red Dead Nettle, Lesser Celandine, 

 Dandelion, Dog's Mercury, Daisy. Strawberry-leaved Potentil, Greater 

 Stitchwort, Dog Violet, Anemone, Cowslip, Holly, Cuckoo Flower, 

 Blackthorn, and White Violet. 



I saw and heard many Tree Pipits to-day. They were in good 

 song, some singing in their descent, others whilst perching on the 

 telegraph wires, or the branch of a tree. I think there is no more 

 pleasant sight than to observe and listen to this beautiful songster for 

 the first time. 



Flower of Horse Chestnut bursting, and the foliage very delicate 

 as it unrolls. 



Tadpoles in the pools. 

 Humble and other Bees all out. 



I found to-day the following 

 nests and eggs: Two Hedge 

 Sparrows, one containing three 

 eggs; two Redbreasts', one con- 

 taining five eggs, hen bird "on," 

 and built in exactly the same 

 hole in the bank as last year; 

 eleven Blackbirds', only one con- 

 taining eggs to the number of 

 four; six Song Thrushes', one 

 nest containing two eggs, and 

 another one egg. 



DOG VIOLETS. Saw and heard the Greater 



Whitethroat, and saw the Lesser 



Whitethroat, which was silent. The latter species is not such a good 

 songster as the former. 



Flower of Cuckoo Pint coming forward. 

 Heard the Cuckoo. 



Coal Tit, Common Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, 

 Lapwing, Skylark, and Robin singing; Skylark, Robin, and Song 

 Thrush all singing after 7.30 p.m. 



Many Bats out at dusk. 



A friend heard the Nightingale for the first time this evening. 



