246 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



people know what it is; but standing near an admiring crowd this 

 evening I was surprised to hear an intelligent-looking man say, "Look 

 at that Shark!" 



A most beautiful young Barn Owl was brought to me this evening. 

 It was a young bird of the year, and was found sitting on the cricket 

 ground in Clarence Park this morning. I will not say how the lovely- 

 creature met its death, but it was evidently unwell, and allowed its 

 captor to deal out death to it. Which to admire most about the 

 splendid plumage I know not. Whether the score or so of large 

 wing feathers white and light chestnut, with pencillings of dark ashy 

 colour or the pure snowy breast, abdomen, and legs, and inside of 

 wings, or the pretty frill or bib feathers (white, tipped with brown 

 and dark ashy) or the peppery back and head together with chest- 

 nut. This is just a short description of the salient features of the 

 plumage, but I should also add a note as to the short tail, the 

 formidable talons, and the peculiar beak feathers and curious situation 

 of feathers round the eyes. 



I have never seen one of these lynx-eyed feathered creatures in 

 such lovely plumage, and would have given much to see it alive. 

 The bird, I am pleased to say, has been preserved. 



23rd. Dull and cloudy early; bright later. Beautiful white and 

 blue sky towards mid-day, blue background, with floating snow-white 

 patches. 



Flowers in bloom : Groundsel, Field Thistle (all the Thistles 

 are going off now), Charlock, Shepherd's Purse, Knot Grass (at its 

 flowering height now), Yarrow, Scentless Mayweed, Nipplewort, 

 Toadflax, Long-rooted Cat's Ear, Perforated St. John's Wort, White 

 Campion, Dandelion, White Clover, Autumnal Hawkbit, Hop Trefoil 

 (out in a blaze of yellow again), Red Clover, Dove's-foot Crane's 

 Bill, Wild Carrot, Field Scabious, Field Convolvulus, Fumitory, Sow 

 Thistle, Creeping Crowfoot, White Dead 3 Nettle, Scarlet Poppy, 

 Common Mallow, Purple Medick, Cow Parsnip, Small Knapweed 

 (will soon be finished), Dog Violet (I have some Violets in flower in 

 the garden, but never expected to find this flower also blooming), 

 Spear-plume Thistle, Upright Meadow Crowfoot, Harebell (no 

 scorching sun seems to affect this pretty flower), Hedge Calamint, 

 Honeysuckle, Herb Robert, Traveller's JoyKprobably last time of 

 inclusion as in flower), Cinquefoil, Hedge Mustard, Germander 

 Speedwell (quite a lot out in bloom), Scarlet Pimpernel, Heartsease, 

 Prickly-headed Poppy, Self Heal (found a piece' to-day throwing pure 



