92 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



upon my readers the value of a "jotter" or small note-book. This 

 diary is, in the first place, written in a very crude style; but I 

 invariably write down at once anything which comes under my notice, 

 so as there can be no mistake about it, and to those who wish to succeed 

 in the study of Natural History this is absolutely necessary. One's 

 memory may be remarkably good, even phenomenal,- but a note 

 written down at once, under the date it came to the notice of the 

 observer, is worth all the memories in the world. 



Pinks "heading up" in the garden. 

 Skylark singing at 7.30 p.m. 



Mr. T. Bamford, Chandlers' Cross, Herts., writes me to-day as 

 follows: "On the l#th inst I heard the Cuckoo, and saw a Swallow, 

 and on the l^th heard the Nightingale. I shot two Rooks on the 

 18th, and found in their crops Barley, Earthworms, and a few Wire- 

 worms." 



25th. Colder; the heat wave has apparently passed. Raining. 

 Skylark singing. No wind. 



I saw a Toad to-day, which reminds me that there are two 

 species in Britain, the Common and the Natter-jack. The latter is 

 somewhat rare, and can be identified by the pale line which runs 

 down the back. It is, unlike the Common Toad, found in dry 

 localities, and only resorts to water for breeding purposes. Ten 

 degrees of frost to-night. 



'26th. Not so cold as yesterday. Brilliant sunshine. Skylark 

 singing. House Sparrows busy nesting, the nest being placed at the 

 extremity of an Oak branch, and attached to the branch in a very 

 clever manner. 



No wind. 



27th. Cold East winds. Very little sunshine. Young Lambs 

 getting quite strong, Hedge Sparrow singing. Cowslips flowering in 

 profusion, Blackthorn and Wild Cherry blossom a picture. 



I have heard no birds singing to-day. 



28th. Still very cold, but nice sunshine. How entertaining the 

 Willow Warbler, or Willow Wren, is, especially when looked at 

 through a good pair of field glasses 1 I need hardly impress upon my 

 readers the absolute necessity of a pair of good glasses. Without 

 them much escapes the notice of the observer, and sure identification 

 is very often impossible. I watched a Willow Wren to-day. How 



