COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



are still nesting and if disturbed they will perform the same opera- 

 tion all over again), Chaffinch (one particular bird seen to day was 

 "pinking" and uttering his song in a very subdued manner, but it could 

 not be called in song, and is not therefore included in our list of birds 

 singing), Greater Whitethroat (heard uttering its scolding note; how 

 we miss that delightful song and those curious song flights, which we 

 shall not be able to enjoy again until next April), Spotted Flycatcher; 

 Swallow (half a-dozen or so often seen together, twittering very musi- 

 cally, but how few people know it ever utters a note, musical, discord- 

 ant, or otherwise. I watched one bird to-day gliding in and out of a 

 door in a cow- shed, where it evidently had its nest. How unerring 

 its flight; how it swoops and then steadies itself and glides through 

 the doorway to its nest in the rafters), Greenfinch (uttering all manner 

 of indescribable notes), Jay (screaming in the woods and shooting 

 through the thicket like a meteor), Coal Tit, Chiff Chaff (uttering a 

 squeaking "swit-swit-swit," not the far-better-known notes resembling 

 its name), Marsh Tit (uttering notes something like " Pret-ty-bur-bur- 

 bur -bur-bur," the "pret-ty" very sharp, quick, and clear ringing, the 

 "burs" somewhat harsh. What a dapper little fellow he is in his 

 black head, throat, and nape, and soft grey plumage), Skylark (twitter- 

 ing slightly on flight, but none heard singing), Starling (uttering all 

 manner of extraordinary notes ; a small company together one of the 

 strangest Avian concerts to which it has ever been my good fortune to 

 listen), Partridge (in among the Turpips), Rook, Turtle Dove (nest of 

 two young ones found. What curious little creatures I Several heard 

 'croo-ing" in the Firs. These birds seem very partial to Oak trees). 

 Throughout our ramble to day we never encountered a single Song 

 Thrush 1 We were struck with the number of Robins; they were to 

 be seen or heard at almost every turn. 



Many Grasshoppers heard and seen-, the fresh red and green 

 leaves of the young Oak saplings noticeable; Corn still standing in 

 shocks waiting for fine weather. How the scene has changed! It 

 seems only yesterday we were jotting down in our little diary the fact 

 that the first ear of Corn had opened; now it has all opened and 

 ripened and been cut and shocked some days! How time passes. 

 The hand of the clock of Nature, too, goes round at a tremendous 

 pace, and the rapidity with which it travels is more noticeable when 

 we take an interest in the things around us. The red seeds of the 

 "Wild Arum, or Cuckoo Pint, very noticeable in the woods now, also 

 red and green seeds of the Honeysuckle, the seed bunches of the Ash, 

 Jthe green berries of the Dogwood and Privet, the broad leaves of the 



