182 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



plentiful birds in this district), Pheasant (some hundreds of young 

 ones seen being reared in his lordship's park), Canada Goose (half a 

 dozen seen in a semi-domestic state. What a fine Goose this is, 

 especially when seen for the first time), Wild Duck (a. good many 

 young ones seen, too), Redstart (watched a pair of these birds through 

 the glasses; the note is something like a shrill ' ' We-tit-tit " ; and how 

 beautiful the spreading flame-coloured tail feathers as the male bird 

 alights at the foot of a giant Oak and hangs on Nuthatch like), Sand 

 Martin, Pied Wagtail (uttering his " Which-is-it, which-is-it "), Kestrel 

 (so pleased to see one of these b rds, the only Hawk seen during the 

 whole day), and Yellow Bunting. 



The Wheat ears are turning yellow, and the bloom is to be seen. 

 The Elder is in very full blossom now. Many Small Meadow-brown 

 and Blue Butterflies out, but the Orange-tip has run its course. We 

 noticed an Oak tree fairly riddled by Woodpeckers and Nuthatches; 

 also the fruit of the Wild Cherry. There were many birds in these 

 latter trees partaking of the luscious fruit. There were about a dozen 

 trees in a fairly large wood, and the birds came from far and near 

 to have their fill. What a treat for them, indeed! 



The Ash trees are very beautiful still, the keys very prominent; 

 also those on the Maple. 



Of the many hundreds of grasses which are now to be seen, I 

 can only give a passing reference, but what a study these are in 

 themselves. One might devote a lifetime to their study, and then 

 have a deal to learn. The fruit of the Beech is very noticeable now. 

 The Beech mast contains starch, sugar, and oil, and for various cattle 

 and fowls is very fattening. We might do well to use this fruit more 

 than we do. Most of the mast which falls is passed heedlessly by, 

 and never used. In France oil is extracted from it, and used for 

 cooking and lighting purposes. 



The various shades of green are still many and various, but there 

 is hardly that diversity of tints so noticeable a few weeks since. Still, 

 there are light and dark greens, greys, and silvers, which deserve notice. 



We went through a young Spruce Fir plantation to-day, and 

 what a treat we had. The ground was covered with luscious Wild 

 Strawberries, and did not we have a fill! What an enjoyable feast to 

 be sure, and also the surroundings. Up the grass-grown drive, right 

 through the plantation, is where we found the Bee Orchis blooming 

 and growing in profusion, too; all around was the golden of the 

 Bird's Foot Trefoil, the pink and white of the Field Convolvulus, 

 giant Oxeye Daisies, a good sprinkling of tasty-looking Mushrooms, 



