SEPTEMBER. 239 



Persicaria, Forget-me-not, Greater Bindweed, Woody Nightshade, 

 Toadflax, Tansy, Daisy, and Purple Medick. It will be noticed that 

 we still find nearly seventy species of flowers blooming. 



Birds singing: The only bird in song is still the Robin. 



Birds seen or heard: Swallow (heard a number of these birds 

 in chorus; the effect very delicate and beautiful); Hedge Sparrow, 

 Skylark (just uttering a mere twitter), Nuthatch (seen and heard 

 uttering the shrill " chip, chip, chip, chip " notes), Chaffinch, Ring 

 Dove, Starling (in large flocks), Great Tit, House Martin, Jay, 

 Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher (I have never observed so many of 

 these birds as I have this Summer; they have been very numerous), 

 Song Thrush (one or two seen to-day evidently in moult, many 

 feathers on head and neck missing), Rook, Jackdaw, Marsh, Coal, 

 and Long-tailed Titmice (came across quite a little colony of these 

 birds in a Willow thicket. The Coal Tit especially was in fine 

 plumage, the white nape being very noticeable and the white patch 

 at back of head. The Marsh Tits were hanging on the some thistle- 

 heads, extracting the seeds in a wonderful manner. This reminds 

 me that Tits are also very fond of the seeds of the Sunflower, and 

 will visit gardens for that purpose). 



Great many Grashoppers about still; many Large Garden White 

 and Blue Butterflies out, also Small Tortoiseshells. The delicite 

 lemon colour of some of the Crowfoots is very noticeable just now. 

 Blackberries ripe. Found some Mignonette growing wild, but 

 apparently carted there with some refuse, or by birds. The curious 

 seed heads of the Agrimony are worth mentioning, also the black 

 berries of the Dogwood. Where we rambled to-day the grasses and 

 flowers, &c., by the hedgerows had all been lowered by the. scythe, 

 so that several flowers were not to be observed. The red berried and 

 seed-laden hedgerows more prominent than when we last wrote ; 

 the browns and yellows of the trees very perceptible. The Rabbits 

 were disporting themselves in the fields bordering the woods, and 

 we noticed a pitched battle between a large Bluebottle Fry and a 

 Spider. The Fly won, and the Spider, coward-like, hied away 

 disgusted and defeated at his own game. 



1 Oth. Dull early, bright and warm later. Breezy and cloudy 

 towards evening. 



Flowers blooming in garden: Nasturtium, Sunflower, Flock, 

 Phlox, Rudbeckias, Cornflowers, Japanese Anemone, Rose, Stock, 

 Aster, Antirrhinum, French Marigold, Eschscholtzia, Canterbury 



