254 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



of many species at this time. Robins are in full song here, singing 

 very sweetly. In the dark portions of the woods the Blackbird 

 can often be heard uttering its peculiar noise of "chock-chock- 

 chock." The Blue Tit is unusually active, and is busy among 

 the insects. Twittering Swallows have gone, my last date being 

 20th September. The Common Tern or Sea Swallow has also 

 departed. They have been much shot at, but I am glad to say 

 they have escaped the usual destruction, as persons with guns are 

 becoming fewer here. The weather we are having here is rather 

 nasty ; rain, wind, and very cold days being experienced. Occasionally, 

 the glorious sun breaks through a dark, sombre-looking cloud, and 

 cheers us up a bit. I doubt, however, the weather is broken. I cannot 

 say the Summer has been exceptionally good here. North of us some 

 miles, snow has fallen to a depth of several inches." 



30th. Dull and raining slightly early, then bright and warm 

 until mid-day, afterwards rain until 7 o'clock. S.W. winds somewhat 

 strong. 



Flowers in bloom: Scarlet Poppy, Dandelion (more golden 

 and beautiful than ever), Nipplewort, Yarrow (signs of going off 

 apparent now), Scentless Mayweed, Field Thistle, Long-rooted Cat's 

 Ear (in its beauty), Autumnal Hawkbit, Knot Grass, Charlock (whole 

 fields of this are to be seen again now), Sow Thistle, Groundsel, 

 Common Mallow, Red Clover, Bramble (just one or two pieces out 

 only), Purple Medick (what a beautiful colour this flower is when 

 closely examined), Fumitory, Bush Vetch (a solitary piece in flower), 

 Shepherd's Purse, Hedge Parsley, White Dead Nettle, Small Knap- 

 weed, Cow Parsnip, Cinquefoil, Heartsease, Chickweed, Upright 

 Meadow Crowfoot, Herb Robert, Agrimony, Lesser Stitchwort, 

 Hedge Bedstraw (just a sprig or two), Prickly-headed Poppy, Wild 

 Carrot (mostly gone off), Harebell, White Clover, Spear-plume 

 Thistle, Hop Trefoil, Toadflax, Field Convolvulus (probably included 

 for the last time), Devil's-bit Scabious (very attractive now), Ragwort 

 (one golden clump only seen), Hedge Mustard, Germander Speed- 

 well, Hedge Calamint, Self Heal, Daisy (very few in flower), and Field 

 Scabious. Our list is decreasing rapidly now; it hardly numbers 

 fifty species. 



Birds singing: Skylark and Robin. 

 n v !, ->.-' 



Birds seen or heard: Rook (very noisy quite early this morning), 

 Starling (a flock seen, and as against the blue sky they could be 

 watched for some time. Now they are together, now opening out, 





