APRIL. 91 



Partridges all paired now. Many Field Mice creeping about in 

 the hedgerows. 



I heard two or three Nightingales during to-day for the first time. 

 What a mistaken idea it is that this bird does not sing during the day ! 

 He does sing in the daytime, but his voice, mingled with that of his 

 fellows, is less captivating than when listened to during the shadowy 

 stillness of the moonlight hour. He is in by no means good song 

 yet, but so soon as the females arrive the males preceding the latter 

 by some few days his melodies will be poured forth in all their beauty. 



Has the reader ever heard the Jay croaking? It is impossible 

 to give a written description of the note, but it is certainly distinctly 

 different to the far-better known shriek of this bird. 



Saw a Mistle Thrush or two. Many Bats round a small pool 

 towards evening. 



23rd. The various greens are well worth noticing at this season. 

 The light and dark greens, as compared with the brown withered 

 leaves of the Beech and Hornbeam, present a very striking appearance. 

 Another lovely day. Masses of Cherry and Plum blossom; it is many 

 years since I saw such an abundance of blossom. It looks like being 

 a good fruit season. 



Skylark singing. 



A correspondent wrote me recently as to the names of some 

 water-plants, and I may set out the names of a few which may be 

 looked for, all of which do well in an aquarium, and their growth 

 will afford the observer much interest: Frog Bit, Water Soldier, 

 Canadian Water Weed, Mare's Tail, Spiked Water Milfoil, Vernal 

 Water Starwort, Autumnal Water Starwort, Water Crowfoot, Ivy- 

 leaved Crowfoot, Water Lobelia, Lily-like Villarsia, Buck-bean, 

 Forget-me-not, Brooklime, Water Mint, Common Hornwort, Bladder- 

 wort, Water Violet, Flowering Rush, Great Water Plantain, Common 

 Arrow-head, Branched Bur Reed, Sweet Flag, Broad-leaved Pond Weed, 

 Cape Fragrant Water Lily, Water Chestnut, Water Awlwort, Greater, 

 Thick, Lesser, and Ivy-leaved Duckweeds; Willow Moss, and the 

 various Crystalworts. 



24th. Beautiful weather still, but surely much too warm to last. 

 Hawthorn getting greener daily. Some nice showers now would push 

 things along rapidly. 



No wind. This note may appear somewhat trifling, but it is 

 important now that the Migrants are arriving daily. I cannot impress 



