MAY. 125 



23rd. Dull, and very showery, afterwards bright. Splendid growing 

 weather. Skylark and Hedge Sparrow singing. 



I am pleased, to hear, on the best authority, that several Dartford 

 Warblers were seen quite recently in Dorsetshire. 



Swifts were seen at Ringwood on April 26th, a very early date. 



24th. Two of the salient features in our inland flora just now 

 is the blue-carpeted woods, the Wild Hyacinths, and the whitened 

 hedgerows, various umbelli ferae, viz., Wild Carrot, Parsley, &c. The 

 Hawthorn, although in flower in some places, is not yet the mass of 

 milk-white bloom which some nice warm weather would bring about. 



Showery, but, between the showers, bright sunshine. The wiseacres 

 prophesy a continuance of unsettled weather for some weeks. We 

 shall see how far their predictions come true. 



I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the statement, but it is said 

 that a record which has been kept for over 80 years reveals the fact 

 that the harvest yield may be gathered from the leafing of the Oak 

 and the Ash. If the Oak leafs first, it is predicted that a dry and 

 hot Summer takes place, and consequently a bountiful harvest; and 

 when the Ash is the first to throw open its leaves, the prospects of a 

 good harvest are supposed to be endangered. In this district the Oak 

 was in leaf some little time before the Ash. 



25th. N.W. winds. Skylark singing gaily day after day. Heavy 

 showers, and brilliant sunshine, alternately, throughout the day. 



26th. Dull weather first thing, but fine afterwards. Warm. Greater 

 Whitethroat heard singing near my garden. 



The fields are one mass of golden now, beautifully relieved by 

 the green of the grasses. Of course, the golden is the several species 

 of Crowfoots, or should the plural be Crowfeet? I rather think it 

 should be Crowfoots, but old writers were wont to write Crowfeet. 



Most people know that the Cuckoo builds no nest, but places its 

 eggs in the nests of other birds. An instance is recorded, however, 

 by Herr Muller, a well-known German Naturalist, of a Cuckoo sitting 

 on, and hatching, her own fledgling. Three Cuckoo's eggs were found 

 by Herr Muller in a hollow under a tussock of grass. The female 

 bird was daily observed sitting, and in due time a young sprawling 

 Cuckoo was hatched, the two remaining eggs proving to be sterile. 

 The youngster was well looked after by the parent bird until he was 

 able to take care of himself, but this must be regarded as a very 

 exceptional, and extraordinary, occurrence. 



