AUGUST. 



215 



Birds singing Robin (gradually the Autumn song is being 

 resumed; there is nothing which has a greater charm for me at this 

 season than the song of the Redbreast; there is something so lonely 

 and yet beautiful about it which quite fascinates me. In the early 

 Spring and Autumn I think the song of this bird is most welcome!), 

 Willow Warbler (I heard two of these birds singing to-day. It was 

 early morning when I heard the first one, and I was not certain about 

 it, but towards evening a second bird was singing merrily in an Oak 

 right underneath which I happened to be resting. The song was not 

 nearly so lengthy nor lively as some weeks ago), Common Wren (what a 



A RURAL COT. 



strong song this perky litt e bird utters). As will be seen, few birds 

 indeed are singing now; many are moulting. 



Birds seen or heard: House Sparrow (a good many on the 

 shocks in the cornfields; one seen carrying nesting materials still!), 

 Swift, Yellow Bunting, House Martin, Blackbird (one bird towards 

 evening was " clucking " in an extraordinary manner), Ring Dove (these 

 are curious birds ; the more I see of them the more I think so. When 

 I flush them out of the wood they fly out into the open and take a cir- 

 cuit of a mile or so to get back to where they started from for they 



