APRIL. 



95 



uttering the song of the Redbreast, but suddenly broke out into a more 

 varied, rich, and mellow outburst, which at once convinced me it was 

 the Blackcap. The bird kept well concealed, and it was half-an-hour 

 before I could get a glimpse of him ; but I had a grand sight of him 

 when luck and patience did favour me. How pleasing to see again the 

 black head, and light and dark ash plumage; to observe the sprightly 

 actions, and the bird's deft movements from twig to twig. This bird 

 undoubtedly possesses the imitative faculty to great perfection, and 

 ranks as one of the most pleasing song birds in the British Isles. 



Sparrow, Common Wren, 



Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Hedge 

 Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chiff Chaff, 

 Cuckoo, Great Tit (the more I hear this 

 bird the more variety of notes he seems 

 to utter), and Ring dove, all singing. 

 It is more correct I suppose to say the 

 latter bird was cooing. 



Standing underneath, or hard by, 

 a Rookery, how it upsets the feathered 

 occupants. They caw, and scream, and 

 take good care to koop just out of 

 gunshot. One particular Rook to-day 

 was whelping like a dog, reminding me 

 of the Vociferous Sea Eagle, about 

 which I wrote in my notes as to the 

 Zoological Gardens. What a mess these 

 birds make underneath their nest 

 trees! Dead Rook lying on the ground. 

 Found many Song Thrushes' nests 

 to-day, one or two with eggs, one 



containing four young ones just showing their feathers. Several of 

 the nests looked as if the young had flown 1 Found a Blackbird's 

 nest containing one solitary sprawling fledging. Chaffinch's nest 

 placed on pliant branches of a Fir, beautifully "hung"; containing 

 four eggs. The male bird in a terrible state of excitement whilst I 

 was at the nest. When nesting in Fir trees, I find the Song Thrush 

 uses a good many Fir twigs in the outside construction. 



Several Small White Butterflies out and about. 



Wych Elm out. Foliage of the Limes very beautiful now. Beech 

 buds bursting; Larch Fir flowering; many Humble Bees out: saw 

 some Jays, and a Tree Creeper landed on a tree within a foot or two 



NARCISSI. 



