192 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



one eye; at least one was black and the other yellow. Several Geese 

 keep a safe distance from us, and we notice particularly a fine young 

 Game cock. Cannot the former tear up the grass with those bills of 

 theirs? Are there not some good stout beams in an old farmhouse? 

 Inside we noticed a stuffed Kingfisher, Sparrow Hawk, and Kestrel^ 

 a couple of curious domestic Pigeons, whilst a fine-voiced Linnet 

 was singing. The old lady says it mocks every wild bird it can hear! 

 The farmer showed us with pride what he called a "pot" of 

 "Shamrock," but it was Wood Sorrel, which grows within a few yards 

 of his door ! 



YOUNG SWALLOWS. 



The Traveller's Joy is heading up very prominently now, it will 

 soon be out in flower. The keeper tells me he has seen and heard 

 many pairs of Nightjars this Summer, and that a Sparrow Hawk is 

 continually robbing him of his young Pheasants. As many as five 

 were taken before breakfast this morning from the coops where they 

 are being reared. 



I do not know whether it is generally known that when emascu- 

 lation takes place in a Deer its antlers fall off, and it then 

 associates with the Does; also that when the generative organs of 

 the female Pheasant go wrong she assumes the garb of the male 



