202 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



giant Grasses, some of them six feet in height. Here it is cool, 

 inviting, and invigorating, a welcome shelter from the scorching rays 

 of the July sunshine. 



Here our little sermon written in the wood closes. Now for a 

 few closing observations made to-day. The delicate red tints of the 

 Maple very beautiful now; the mass of Potato blossom has gone off; 

 the green berries of the Elder noticeable, also berries of the Mountain 

 Ash; many White Butterflies out to-day. The white flora very 

 noticeable now is the Cow Parsnip, Wild Carrot, Scentless Mayweed, 

 and the Yarrow. Seeds of the Dog Rose observable; the Lime has 

 gone off flower; the berries of the Black Bryony getting quite large; 

 many Wood Lice under the bark of an old Oak lying in the woods; 

 what large spreading fronds the Bracken throws in some localities! 

 The Silver Birch noticed to-day, also the Wild Strawberry still bears 

 the luscious, though small fruit. 



30th. Bright; temperature again up to 110 degrees in the sun 

 at 8 a.m. Nice breezes. 



31st Brilliant sunshine, gentle breezes. There is a very percept- 

 ible falling off in the song of the Skylark. 



Now that the period of drought has been broken, Mr. Sowerby 

 Wallis, of 62, Camden-square, London, sets out in the "Times" some 

 of the features of this remarkable month. 



On the 16th the temperature rose to 95-2 degrees, the highest 

 point recorded in 43 years. 



On the 28rd the temperature did not fall below 07-7 degrees, 

 and this is the highest minimum on any night in 43 years. 



On five days the temperature rose above 90 degrees: 16th, 

 95-2 deg.; 19th, 93-4 deg.; 20th, 92-9 deg.; 24th, 90-1 deg.; 2/Hh, 

 94-0 deg. 



On the 19th the temperature was practically at or above 90 degrees 

 from about 1.45 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. 



On the 25th the temperature was above 90 degrees from 11.30 

 am. to 5 p.m. 



In the 42 years ending 1899, only one July that of 1863 had 



