168 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



very striking illustration of the wondrous workings of Nature, and an 

 instance of the all-absorbing interest which exists in the Natural 

 History world. 



29th. Very close and warm. Greater VVhitethroat and Skylark 

 singing. 



Looking through a dictionary to-day I came across the follow- 

 ing : " Nightingale : A small bird that sings at night." What a poor 

 definition, to be sure! Why not somewhat as follows: "A well-known 

 song-bird, which, although it sings during the day-time, is best known 

 because it also sings at night?" 



30th. Several hours' rain early this morning, but looks like 

 clearing up later. June, 1900, has been the wettest June we have 

 experienced for ten years. The total rainfall for the present month 

 was 2-6 inches. June, 1889, was 0-92 inches, 1898, 0-95 inches, and 

 1897, 1-71 inches. The sunshine record this June has been 142 

 hours, against an average of 167 for the past fifteen years 1 



I had a few hours fishing to-day at a delightfully rural spot. 

 Sitting on the fine grass -as soft as the best drawing-room cushion 

 at the foot of an Ash tree, it is quite enjoyable to watch and listen 

 to the wild life all around The lake in front of us is light and dark 

 alternately, a striking illustration of light and shade. There is a 

 rather strong breeze, which sends a pleasing ripple across the water. 

 Overhead a Skylark soars and sings, and we have hardly noticed this 

 fact before a Greater Whitethroat rings out that delicate peal of bells 

 from that dainty little white throat. A pair of mute Swans engage 

 our attention; we feed them with some biscuits, but they take 

 advantage of our kindness, and going under the Weeping Willows 

 steal the bread soaking in the water to be used as ground bait! A 

 Wren pours out its carol, and later on we find its nest placed in the 

 very centre of an old cattle shed Every few moments a few Swallows 

 dart just above the water's edge; how they glide and guide through 

 the boughs and over the tops of the weeds 1 Ring Doves may be 

 heard cooing noisily in the distance, whilst one of their cbmpany 

 takes up his station in one of the trees on the island in the centre 01 

 the lake. The voice of the Chiff Chaff comes to us from the right, 

 where there is a coppice, and a Song Thrush is heard in the woods 

 at our back, singing long and loud. Hanging over the water are 

 many Chestnut trees, and the ground to the edge of the pool is 

 carpeted with various delicate flowers and grasses. There is the 

 Broom still in flower; also Rhododendrons. Bird's Foot Trefoil, 

 Lesser Stitchwort, and the Common Orchis On the opposite bank 

 is an old time-worn boathouse. On the moss-covered slates a 



