AUGUST. 2&5 



mony and contrast in wild Nature often seem mingled together; 

 thus, to-day, we noticed a small Blue Butterfly hovering over a clump 

 of purple Wild Thyme. What a contrast, and yet what harmony 1 The 

 Stinging Nettles seem to sting more sharply just now, though they do 

 not even yet sting the month! Many birds heard to-day were singing 

 in an almost inaudible tone, and unless one sees them it is practically 

 impossible to identify them. They are hidden away in the thick 

 foliage, and rarely leave it during the heat of the day. A great show 

 of Hips and Haws and Mountain Ash, Holly, and other berries. If 

 this is anything to go by, we are to have a hard Winter. The Elder- 

 berries are turning dark purple or liver colour, and the birds have 

 already stripped many of the trees. Came across a notice board to- 

 day as follows: "All persons found trespassing will be prosecuted, 

 and all stray dogs shot"! I wonder the selfish landowner did not 

 include " persons" as well as "dogs" in the latter part of the notice 1 



More Blue Butterflies about to-day than I have noticed this 

 season. What delicate beauties they are. The Burdock has gone off 

 flower. The Nuts are quickly ripening under the hot August sunshine. 

 Some Blackberries ripe. 



The rows of Swedes and Mangolds are looking well just now. 

 Many species of Fungi noticeable. The Broad Leaved Helleborine 

 has gone to seed; noticed that in each pod there are three whitish, 

 flannel-like seeds. A few Wild Strawberries still giving fruit. What 

 a difference in the fields is observable at this season morning and 

 night. In the morning one sees a whole sheet of golden, from the 

 Long rooted Cat's Ear, the Nipplewort, the Sow Thistle, and the 

 Autumnal Hawkbit; at night, that is towards evening, all the golden 

 has disappeared, the flowers named have closed their eyelids, and one 

 can hardly identify the same field under these two conditions. 



It is not restful and peaceful to be in the woods just before the 

 gloaming, and then during the gloaming hour? The scene is wonder- 

 ful because of its stillness. Now and then a restless bird or other 

 wild creature moves, then a Ring Dove tells his loving mate not to 

 scold so; a startled Jay utters its shrieking alarm cry, and shakes the 

 welkin; Bees are still .buzzing, and the Night Chafers come out from 

 their hiding places of the day and fly about and across the face as one 

 sits in the wood by the fallen Oak, on which various large Fungi are 

 growing; presently we hear a shriek from a Thrush or a Blackbird, a 

 rustling in the leaves as of a Weasel or Stoat on the prowl or a Hedge- 

 hog on the search. We participated in such a scene this evening, and 



