JULY. 187 



Skipper, Lulworth Skipper (by no means common), Large Skipper, 

 Silver-spotted Skipper. 



10th. Very hot; 106 degrees at 8 a.m. The House Sparrows 

 come into the garden for their breakfast every morning now. 



11th. Lovely Summer weather now. Brilliant sunshine tempered 

 with soft breezes. Skylark, Wren, and Hedge Sparrow singing. 

 Splendid show of White Lilies in the garden; the aroma most 

 beautiful, and flowers like wax. The salient features of the flowers 

 on the railway banks now are the white of the Cow Parsnip, Yarrow, 

 and Oxeye Daisies, the mauve of the Field Scabious, the scarlet of 

 the Poppy, and the yellow of the Hawksbeard and Long rooted 

 Cat's Ear. 



12th. Still scorching hot. Splendid haymaking weather. Picked 

 Peas in the garden, and dug Potatoes. The smell of the new mown 

 Hay most delicious, especially towards evening. 



13th. Another scorcher. Still over 100 degrees at 8 a.m. The 

 Hedge Sparrow is in continuous song now, and the Lark sings on. 

 I am never at home without a Lark can be heard singing right over 

 my house. How few residents in the district take notice of the little 

 jewel suspended in mid-air, but I for one worship the sweet-voiced 

 minstrel. 



A specimen of the American Bittern captured at Long Sutton, 

 Somersetshire, during the Winter of 1898 has just been brought to 

 my notice. Only a few examples of this interesting bird have been 

 obtained in this country. 



In size the now extinct British breeding Bittern and the American 

 species differ very little, a remark which also applies to the general 

 structure and habits. 



This bird has a variety of names, and amongst others may be 

 mentioned those of Marsh Hen, Stake-driver, Poke, Freckled Heron, 

 Bog Bull, Night Hen, Booming Bittern, and Look-up. 



The range of the bird is temperate North America, and it usually 

 nests in Virginia, and winters from that State Southwards to the West 

 Indies. With its yellow bill, rather stout and sharply-pointed, small 

 rounded tail, and long olive-coloured legs, the bird presents an 

 altogether attractive appearance. The upper parts are freckled with 

 shades of brown, blackish, buff, and whitish; it is slate-coloured on 

 the top of head and back of neck, with a wash of yellow brown ; 

 there is a black streak on sides of neck, the chin and throat are 

 white, with a few streaks of brown; underneath pale buff pre- 



